spruced by marlene

It’s Monday! Style column day. Or should I say: hat day?

Back when Okka and I shared an office, we’d have “writing cap days”. An invention of Okka’s and one that was quite genius. When either of us was wearing a woollen cap, the other one knew: she has to concentrate on writing and in order for her to finish the damn article without having a nervous breakdown, I had better not speak to her. Except to arrange for the next chocolate delivery, of course. The days when both of us were wearing caps must’ve been hell for our colleagues.

Although Okka and I unfortunately no longer share an office, I’ve stuck with the ritual of putting on a cap once the writing gets difficult. It helps.

Just like it helps wearing this hat.

Not with the writing. No, only certain types of cap help with that (and if that sounds mad to you: it is. But when it’s 3am and you have to finish an article by morning and you can’t find the right words, madness and you are on good terms anyway). The hat, however, helps against November days. Against days when I want to stay in bed in the morning, because there’s so much to do that I think: can’t do it, leave me alone. Against I’m-feeling-small-today-days. Because that hat, it makes me taller – literally. Makes me stand straighter. Feel better prepared. Even if I’m just taking down the recycling or calling my health insurance (do I wear the hat indoors? Sometimes – when I’m calling my health insurance.) That hat is the trick I use when I’m feeling just a little disenchanted by having to be a grown-up. A pair of pointy black stilettos hold the same magic powers for me. And a kick-ass red lipstick.

And because today happens to be one of those days, I want to know: what are your “writing caps”?