Emma davenport

Since I was a tiny child I have always loved dressing up. I really can't help it, it's in my DNA.

Growing up I became an enthusiastic follower of fashion and had the opportunity to dress up every day for work in my careers in advertising and interior design.

My life was blessed until our second son Harry was born in 2009 and diagnosed with severe and multiple disabilities.

Not what we were expecting.

Between the constant medical appointments, hospital stays, navigating the disability 'support' systems, sleep deprivation, caring for Harry's 2 year old brother Oliver, living in a tiny crappy rented apartment, surviving on one income, dealing with my own auto-immune health issues... my life was a war zone.

I disappeared into a world of pain & for a while I lost myself. I didn't care about how I looked or what I wore.

Just showering required major logistical planning and some days I couldn't be bothered.

Basically I forgot who I was.

In the midst of this quagmire of 'loungewear' and BO, I have a very clear memory of sitting at our tiny dining table/home office/work bench and finding The Zoe Report back in 2010. 

It triggered a re-connection to myself.  Something about the accessible glamour jolted me awake.

I literally got up, showered, blow dried my hair & put on some proper (clean) clothes, earrings, lipstick, even shoes… and probably went to Kmart in Ashfield Mall. BOOM!

I rediscovered myself through finding self expression in what I wore.

Dressing well was my form of self care - still is.

We had almost no money (still don't have loads) but I managed to build a pretty enviable capsule wardrobe from Target and Ebay, and created some decent makeup looks from the local pharmacy.

My joy for living slowly returned, I re-engaged with the world as an individual (not just as the disabled kid's mum) and managed to put on a brave (well made-up) face & be the warrior I needed to be to do what was necessary to look after my family.

This might all sound a bit superficial but please consider that the way we dress is the most conspicuous form of self expression.  It influences our mood, impacts our behaviour and tells the world who we are.

We all have to put something on every morning so it might as well be something that makes us feel great.  It's a daily opportunity for absolute freedom of expression and I can't think of any other area of life where these forms of joy are so accessible.

For me, looking good & feeling good are conjoined twins- trying to separate them is dangerous.

So 9 years on from the whole Rachael Zoe epiphany,  I have broadened my shopping repertoire beyond Target and family life, although rocky at times has stabilised.  I have built a fairly decent career as a interior designer and we live in a proper house with pets and an actual dining room (posh!).

...And I have learned a lot about myself and how uplifting a well-considered wardrobe is for me.

My goal now is to create the ultimate wardrobe.  One that is so well-considered that everything is loved and nothing is wasted.  Where the joy of dressing impeccably is real, every day.

Simplicity and efficiency are also key to my ultimate wardrobe.

Over-thinking = joy killer so I'm looking to practically automate the whole damn thing.

I have one aim:

To bring more joy into my life through a well-considered wardrobe.

I really hope you'll share this experience with me and maybe find some joy along the way in building your own well-considered wardrobe.

Emma xx

Well-Considered on Instagram