Once Upon a December

I’m pretty sure that whoever clicks on this post did so because of the heading.

Dancing bears, painted wings, things you almost remember?

Maybe you are imagining something like this: Couples waltzing circles, their ornate gowns a colorful haze beneath the sparkling chandelier. Maybe you hear the quartet playing, smell the champagne or even detect muffled laughter of children sneaking chocolates beneath the tables. Or maybe you see Anastasia herself swirling in her iconic golden dress and glittering tiara. Of course we must not forget the snow, lazily falling into heaps of powdered sugar in the silver moonlight beyond the windows.

For those of us who grew up loving the animated classic, Anastasia is a deep source of nostalgia and inspiration. I tend to associate Anastasia with elegance, glamour, mystery and majesty. When December rolls around, I imagine what it would be like to morph into the iconic ball scene “Once Upon a December” describes.

Though I may not be invited to any royal snow balls, there are still ways I love to channel this “Once Upon a December” ballroom energy!

1.) Elegance

Elegance is the key component to channeling Romonov ballroom energy! There is power in carrying ourselves with grace and class. It demonstrates to others, and most importantly ourselves, that we are worthy of respect. So, elegance begins in our attitude but crosses over into our appearance. I feel most elegant when my hair and nails are done, I’m wearing perfume and I don’t feel rushed or frazzled. When it comes to elegance, the details matter!

2.) Glamour

When channeling Romonov ballroom vibes it is necessary to add special flare! This is the time to pull out the stops and wear those finer pieces that usually sit around collecting dust in the closet. I am a believer that special pieces—dresses, jewelry, fill-in-the-blank, are meant to be worn. And the holiday season, with out without a ball, is a prime time for some extra pizazz. I love adding statement headbands, a splash of sparkle in some accessory, and bold colors. Of course, black or white can be quite dramatic when paired with statement jewelry or headpieces!

3.) Mystery

Who doesn’t love a good mystery? Balls have a timeless sense of mystery and allure. There is something very intriguing when people dress up and follow a dance—energy is transferred within this focused, skillful exchange that allows people to get lost in the moment. A great way to create ballroom mystery is to channel some of our more sensitive, often unexpressed sides while purposefully restraining the more commonly demonstrated sides of our personality. Pause from overthinking, worrying, stressing, analyzing, etc. and fully soak up the moment. This also allows sides of us to emerge that may surprise and intrigue those around us!

In Conclusion

Elegance, glamour and mystery are three ways I channel Anastasia, “Once Upon a December” ballroom vibes. For my fellow Anastasia fans, I would love to hear how your version of this list!