STYLE Santa Fe is fashion but not just fashion, it is your own style. It is beauty but both inner and outer beauty. It is inspiration and self-improvement, It is the dreaming of, and the achieving of, personal dreams, it is a state of mind and it is a lifestyle, all with a touch of Santa Fe.
Until now, I have always had such trouble reconciling my
love of fashion and the southwest with my spiritual work (of which I have done a lot and authored many
books) and I am forever split between the two, but then I remembered how in
fashion college I thought we were going to jump right in to modeling and makeup
and all, and instead we spent however long, six weeks maybe, on improving
ourselves from the inside; self improvement, inner beauty, confidence, self
esteem, etc., and I realized that is the way to combine the two, like our
head-mistress did. Because self-improvement, inner improvement is spiritual; it is the same thing with
a different name. It is the foundation on which to build the outer expression. There is no point in being beautiful on the outside if one is
not beautiful on the inside. One cannot be their best if one is not beautiful,
self-loving and aligned on the inside.
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One of the many colorful doors on Santa Fe's Canyon Road.
Who can resist walking through a door like that???
A few years ago, I did an entire photographic series on
the Doors of Canyon Road and I will share these on occasion. |
Through my own alignment, I am drawn to the land of the southwest; the mountains, the
pines, the smells, the cultural blends, the architecture, the eclectic clothing
that makes up Santa Fe-style, the jewelry, the views, the vistas, the lifestyle
of the mountainous southwest, the dry arid climate, the art, the food, the
magic and the heightened spiritual awareness that comes from such an enchanted
land whether in its spiritual melting pot from new-agers to Catholicism, or from
the simplicity of just standing in a sacred place. These create my passions which are fueled from my inner alignment and that is what anyone needs to fully experience life and to live their dreams.
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| One of my vintage leather fringe jackets |
Fashionably speaking I have always been drawn to ethnic
clothing. I remember when we were teenagers, my best friend saying that her
style was classic and mine was ethnic. I didn’t even know what she meant but I
was sitting there in a wrap skirt from India,
a turban-like headband with a long scarf and moccasin boots from Taos. Many years later, I
realized that all these spirited fashions, this eclectic taste, made up Santa
Fe-style, the western culture included because that’s where the fringe and
leather and camisoles and boots come in and those are my favorite things of it
all.
None of my friends really share my passion for clothes,
style, makeup, accessories or jewelry or for the the Southwest or New Mexico or Santa
Fe. And that’s OK, they’re teachers and nurses and
business people who have, let’s face it, more important things on their mind
than whether this necklace goes with that dress or when is their next trip to Santa Fe. But me, I can’t
help it, I guess I am a diva, always have been, always will be. Spoiled
princess, pretty in pink, leather or lace, I just love it all. And though they’re not into it, I
am just betting that you are! I am betting that you get just as passionate
about a fringed bag or a piece of turquoise as I do! That’s why we’re here! And
I look forward to having a community of like-minded new friends who are just as passionate about these things, so I am
putting it out there where you are, flying with your free-spirit on the bo-ho,
cowgirl cyber-highway to Santa Fe, wherever you may actually live.
There are a lot of influences for me here at STYLE Santa Fe in addition to those I have already mentioned. I like the idea that Bobbi Jeen Olson shares of promoting the Western lifestyle through film/fashion/faith and inspiration. I also like the idea I saw online of a page called, From the Ranch to the Runway. I love what so many are doing to promote these passions and that is what I am going to do with STYLE Santa Fe, in my own way, with information from which we can each benefit to improve our style, to achieve our personal dreams and to be our best.
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| Me at the overlook on the road to Los Alamos, just northwest of Santa Fe. |
STYLE Santa Fe is fashion but not just fashion, it is your own style. It is beauty but both inner and outer beauty. It is inspiration and self-improvement, It is the dreaming of, and the achieving of, personal dreams, it is a state of mind and it is a lifestyle. There may also be a few enchiladas or a day-trip to Abiquiu or thereabouts. STYLE Santa Fe is your passion, a state-of-mind, a lifestyle, a dream, and the great looks and attitude with which to achieve it all.
So you will find that STYLE Santa Fe is evolving some in order to meet my
own personal needs and desires as well as to extend these to you. I will be sharing these passions in which I am sure that you will delight as well for if you are here then you too share the love of these things. I will speak more candidly while sharing secrets, tips and more.
Thanks for being here, thanks for joining me. Let's fuel our passions, dress up, and look and feel our best so that we can all put our best boot forward, inside and out in Santa Fe-style.
Cheryl Bruedigam
From Author/Publisher, Stylist and Designer, Cheryl Bruedigam
About Cheryl Yale Bruedigam
STYLE Santa Fe is published by Cheryl Bruedigam.
Publisher Southwest Flair Magazine 2005-present
Former professional model and skin care consultant
Fashion Degree - Flair Fashion College, Albuquerque, NM
Jewelry Designer and Stylist.
