Purple: A Color of Distinction

During a certain interview, I found myself saying, "I'm not quite ready to wear purple clothing yet." This was my response to a journalist who commented, "You seem like you'd look good in purple."

The reason I said that is because I associate purple with images of "nobility" and "dignity." Indeed, from ancient times in the Roman Empire and Japan, it has been considered a color representing high status. Unconsciously, I recognized that I had not yet matured enough as a person to wear such a color, which is why the word "not quite ready" slipped out so quickly.

However, that evening, when I looked through my closet again, I was surprised to find quite a few purple garments! There were bluish-purple and reddish-purple silk blouses, and even a mini-skirt. Hmm, why did I think I didn't own any? ...Perhaps it was because they were all trendy designs adorned with frills, flowers, and ribbons, and thus didn't directly connect with the idea of "regal purple."

After all, frills and mini-skirts don't seem to suit the concept of "regal," which carries an image far removed from fleeting trends.
If we were to compare this to women, it would undoubtedly be Empress Michiko (!), or actresses like Sayuri Yoshinaga, Kyoka Suzuki, or Miki Nakatani. What these women have in common is a refined elegance emanating from their simple presence, or perhaps a gentle grace, intelligence, or even an ethereal transparency.

These qualities are not merely innate; they are cultivated through the accumulation of life experiences and become ingrained over time. Naturally, regardless of the specific qualities, what one thinks and how one acts each day manifests in their face and aura, becoming even more pronounced with age. Having worked as a hair and makeup artist for many years, touching the faces of countless women, this is what I feel most strongly.

Some people's lives seem to be a clear accumulation of meaningful days, while others, I suspect, simply let their days pass by carelessly, or perhaps consume them in a fleeting, amusing manner. It is obvious which type of woman is more captivating.
Every encounter with such individuals, for better or worse, prompts me to reflect on my own life and resolve to live a life where my days are properly accumulated. I hold out hope that by doing so, I will one day become a person who can wear regal purple clothing.

Still, nearly half of the year has already passed... How quickly the days fly by! At this rate, the day may not come in my lifetime (!) when I can wear "regal purple." Living each day with care—it's a simple, straightforward principle, but perhaps it is the most crucial element in approaching "regal purple," or rather, a truly dignified shade of purple.