Reflections on Santa Fe-Style

This morning I woke to the birds chirping, the window open with sunshine streaming in and the clear deep blue skies of New Mexico overhead. As I sat out to enjoy my morning coffee, I immediately felt the breezes of northern New Mexico blowing in. Santa Fe, the Rio Grande, the Valley, Espanola and Abiquiu and O’Keeffe country were all beckoning to my heart and soul. Though I am in New Mexico at the present, I am in southern New Mexico rather than northern and I long to return to the Santa Fe area. Wondering the Plaza, sipping a coffee on Canyon Road, eating out on the patio at La Choza and staring across to the vistas of Los Alamos as its city lights begin to twinkle after a spectacular sunset awaiting once again, another beautiful blue-skied morning.

Photo by Brent Hall, Lightbenders Visuals

Anywhere in New Mexico though there is that amazing sky. It seems so much bigger, and so much bluer. Maybe it is, or maybe for some reason the light just plays differently out here. Perhaps it is possible, the air streams are different, that is why they come from all over the world to the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta. The wind currents are like nowhere else. Perhaps it is the same with the lighting. After all, the play of the light has itself drawn artists from all over the world to, in particular, northern New Mexico, most specifically, Taos and Santa Fe, both havens for artists. They began coming when the railroad came through and they have not stopped.

Maybe it is the colors of the land itself that reflect against the big blue sky that so sets this land apart. It is these colors, this reflection and this play of light that add to all that we love about Santa Fe-style. Mixing and matching, contrasting and highlighting so much that has affected women’s dress and style here. Think of all the colors in one of Georgia O’Keeffe’s painting and you get the idea.

It is now late afternoon, the blue skies have clouded to gray with the daily rains of the summer monsoon season. It will likely clear by sundown and make for an amazing sunset as it usually does. My thoughts still linger to the north, filled with the Santa Fe shops, restaurants, clothes and textiles, decor and all things Santa Fe, and how we can further bring this cultural style into our daily lives, dress, and looks. I never stop wondering, thinking, experimenting and loving the idea of bringing all that is Santa Fe-style into our lives and this is more than just turquoise or a pair of boots. Santa Fe-style covers a broad range from the eclectic to outdoor and yoga clothing, western and Native-influenced attire, hippie-bohemian, artsy, business and casual dress, cultural and ethnic, all of which I will cover here.

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Until then, wishing you a beautiful evening, filled with dreams of Santa Fe.

Cheryl Bruedigam, Stylist/Beauty Consultant
STYLE Santa Fe