My blue obsession

"blue ba favorite color mo (is blue your favorite color)," a co-worker recently asked.

No, not that I was aware of at the time. Meanwhile my closet was filled with the following pieces, heavy in my everyday rotation (pictured above): a qipao with floral and paisley patterns, a sashiko and boro stitched patchwork cardigan, a zip up sweater from Uniqlo, a knitted sweater vest handed down from a friend.

The color crept up on me. Slowly but steadily without me noticing. Somehow it replaced deep forest and olive greens as my go-to pop of color outside my usual preference for neutrals.

All I see is blue, even with the films I watch. Above: Aftersun (2022), Perfect Days (2023), Happy Old Year (2019), Linda Linda Linda (2005)

Then I watched Perfect Days. I loved the way the color was heavily used in styling and production design. I wished for a blue jumpsuit of my own. I became transfixed—or at least became more aware of my already existing fixation.

This year has also been the one where I’ve gotten back into swimming. What was once a relic of my pre-pandemic life has become a weekly habit once again. Maybe there’s something to be said about that too.

I love being in the water. And how could I forget about my bike I’ve aptly named Umi?

Either way, I wonder if this is telling of my emotional and mental state. Calm and quiet, but deep inside exists an undercurrent of yearning.