February
Unveiling February’s Challenge
Although I feel like I'm just getting rolling with fasting, unbelievably, it's almost time to shift gears. For those of you brave souls following along, you're going to need some time to plan for this challenge, so here's a peek at what's in store for February....
Dress Like Prince
Prince performs at the Ritz Theater on September 9, 1984 in New York City. (Photo by Paul Natkin) Is it possible to dress like Prince without looking like you stepped off the set of Purple Rain? I am here to tell you: It is. In the interest of science, I recently...
You Don’t Have to Be a Rock Star to Have a Signature Style
Prince performs at his birthday party at First Avenue on June 7, 1984 in Minneapolis. (Photo by Paul Natkin) Prince was a bold and daring dresser. Witness his choice of costume for his 25th birthday celebration performance at First Avenue in Minneapolis: He had no...
If You’re Not Interested in Style, You Can Still Dress Well
This is a typical casual outfit for me these days. It’s amazing how the no-jeans rule (ahem, thanks, Prince) has pushed me to grab skirts and dresses from the far reaches of my closet. I’ve been wearing them like no one’s business despite the fact that temps here have...
Are You a Courageous Dresser?
Wearing sequins to a Minnesota Timberwolves game? Why not! With 13 days of dressing the part under my belt, I'm starting to feel like I'm becoming a more courageous dresser. Adhering to my rules about no jeans, no loungewear before 6 p.m. (even when working from home)...
God’s Favorite Color
Our family lost a home in the Great Recession of 2008. Eight years later, we were living a simpler life – one that was leaner, greener and richer. What I didn’t realize was that in order to take the final step in healing, I needed to add the color purple to my life’s...
What’s In a Name?
The design of the Love Symbol itself had appeared early in Prince's career, first on the cover of 1999 as a decoration on the first "9" and then notably in still-rudimentary form as a decoration for the purple motorcycle he rode in Purple Rain. The design combined the...
How Prince Communicated through Symbols
What's particularly surprising about Prince's adoption of a symbol as his identity is the fact that he had a love affair with words -- and yet he eschewed words by choosing an unpronounceable symbol as his name. Arlene Oak, associate professor in material culture and...