Spotlight: Dressing For Joy. Rebranding & Rebirthing Through Style
Personal style is an ever-evolving expression of who we are, how we feel, and how we choose to show up in the world. But somewhere between daily living and our own internal struggles, it's easy to lose sight of the joy that just getting dressed can bring. In this feature, we're introduced to Shadé Martin, a stylist, model, holistic health coach, and all around beautiful person! We’ll be exploring her relationship between style and self-expression through the perspective of a stylist who believes in the power of dressing for joy. Rather than speak for her, we're giving her the space to share her story, and what styling means to her.
The following excerpt was written by Shadé Martin:
"As a wife, mom, health coach, licensed Esthetician, and a woman in her 40's, I've spent most of my life living in roles that embodied giving and guiding. As a natural nurturer, I never was taught how to recognize when my pouring of time, attention, and resources exceeded my personal well of energy. I never learned about healthy boundaries or that no is not a bad word, but instead a complete sentence. I often exchanged my peace as currency for the momentary joy of seeing others happy about what I could do for them. I said yes when I wanted to say no, and struggled with people-pleasing and boy did it cost me.
I had no idea that I was living in survival mode for the majority of my life until my husband and I heeded God's call to move from Hudson Valley, NY, to Charlotte, NC in 2024. It was then that I was placed in a new city where I knew very few people and had never been there before.
Entering a season, where we were now empty nesters, had forced me into far more stillness than what I was ever used to. It was very uncomfortable, and I grieved being "needed" while simultaneously experiencing happiness about loving where we now lived.
It wasn't until after 8 months of stillness in a new city that I felt a spiritual shift that I'll never be able to explain with words. I asked God "What was that?" and I heard "You just got out of survival mode." It was news to me because I had no idea that's where and how I'd been living for the majority of my life until that very moment. The only thing I knew prior is that I was utterly and completely exhausted, and that when I was momentarily still, it felt like the hamster wheel of life was still on turbo speed.
Peace on a level that I had never experienced became my portion, and I received God's guidance on how to incorporate healthy boundaries to maintain it. I was changing and truly starting to grow and heal in many areas of my life. All was well until there was a death of a very special person that we had gotten to know at our then local church. It felt like a gut punch with a thousand pound weight behind it. I felt scared of the crushing weight of grief that I was feeling after finally experiencing joy, peace, and healing in my life. But the best news ever is that God didn’t leave me comfortless or without instructions.
A few weeks after entering a grief journey I heard the words "Dress For Joy". My eyes got wide like a deer in headlights and I instantly understood what this meant. I began to get up everyday and put on outfits that sparked joy, even if I wasn’t leaving the house that day. This phrase became a new banner in my life and I had no idea how deeply life changing it was going to be!
I soon realized how "Dressing for Joy" was beginning to challenge me to show up as my true self. The true self that I had never met. Dressing for joy for me involved lots of bright colors, bold patterns, and a mix of a little out of the box styling. Wearing garments like that meant I truly could not hide. I had hid in countless ways in my life, and I loved being a background person that helped behind the scenes. I truly cringed to my core when the spotlight was ever on me, or if I received compliments (still working on the latter part but getting better).
During this time, I began to notice a great deficit in my closet, and the fact that I had many of the same clothing items that I owned for years and years.
I soon discovered a Goodwill practically down the road from me. It was then that I became a late blooming thrift lover!
Dressing For Joy was in full swing when my husband had heard about this awesome creative community for photographers, models and the like called CLT Shooters. I was so excited for him because as a photographer, he truly desired community and had never been able to find it.
It was a blessing that was like a refreshing gust of air! I thought this said blessing was just for him, even though he suggested that I be open to modeling. I chickened out and was a wallflower and cheerleader for a few weeks of events. Remember?...hiding was my thing. My comfort zone was beyond comfy, yet my Dressing For Joy fits were drawing people to ask me if I was there to model.
I took the leap and swallowed my pride when Daisy took me by the hand and brought me to a photographer to have my pictures taken, and encouraged me to start an Instagram account solely devoted to my love of thrifting and styling. Sometimes you just need someone who can see in you what you may not have the courage to see in yourself. I'm so beyond grateful for that moment.
It's now been 1 year of Dressing For Joy, and coming up on a year in a few months of being a part of the CLT Shooters community. It's been the most fun that I've had in a very long time.
Not only has it helped get me out of my comfort zone, but it's helped me tap into a heightened level of creativity by giving me the opportunity to model, operate in my gift of styling, embrace my desire to become a stylist, and make connections with so many beautiful people who I now call my creative family.
Grateful is an understatement for this journey that caused a rebirthing and rebranding of my life. I now embody that joy that I was dressing for, and I'm excited for what's next."
Please visit and follow Shadé on both instagram pages to witness her journey Dressing For Joy (@creative_inheritance_) and learn more about healthy eating and holistic wellness! (@loveyourself2health_)
Article written by Carmen Cummings (@naturalescenes)
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