"The best revenge is to not be like your enemy."
shedding the bad juju and how to channel your inner serpent.
I have a proposition. Let’s all be delusional and pretend that January was in 2024, and we’re just about to kick off 2025. I know we’re all ready for this month to be over.
It feels odd to pretend it’s business as usual. How does one talk about fashion as if the world isn’t on fire, while resisting the reality of a newly inaugurated broligarchy, and the terrifying rise of political extremism that’s seemingly getting louder and prouder by the day?
Anyhoo... After a brief hiatus to let myself deal with the current reality, I’m back and am feeling ready to usher in the Lunar New Year.
Happy New Year to those who celebrate! The Year of the Snake is here.
Personally, I’m not a huge fan of snakes. When the fun facts you learned as a child revolved around how lethal some species are, that sticks with you. Seeing these creatures portrayed as monsters or villains in the movies you watched growing up doesn’t help either. I was absolutely appalled when I took a Harry Potter online sorting test for the first time and got placed in Slytherin. I re-took the test several times until I got something better (Hufflepuff.)
In Western cultures, the serpent tends to get a bad rap. It signifies danger, chaos, deception, destruction. Biblically — it represents temptation, sin, and the downfall of humanity.
But I’m expanding my worldview on these creatures. Snakes, like humans, are complex and often misunderstood.
In Eastern cultures, the serpent represents wisdom, transformation, rebirth, feminine energy, and healing. If we meld the Eastern and Western interpretations of the snake, the result is an Ouroboros — one of the oldest symbols in ancient Egyptian history that depicts a serpent (or a dragon) eating its own tail. It signifies the infinite cycle of destruction and rebirth.
The Year of the Wood Snake (2025) represents wisdom, transformation, and personal growth.
It feels apt based on how this year is going so far. As the chaos of the new administration ensues around us, I’m going to channel my inner serpent and zero in on personal development. Time to shed the bad juju that doesn’t serve me and work towards becoming the best version of myself.
Marcus Aurelius said something like: “The best revenge is to not be like your enemy.” Or when you break up with someone, they say the best revenge is moving on with your life and becoming the best version of yourself. Same same.
I’m putting these sentiments into action by attempting to unlock my most creative self, via The Artist’s Way. I kept seeing this book everywhere — including
’s and ’s newsletters, which I obviously took as a sign. I picked up the book and jumped right in. I’m on week 1, and those daily morning pages have already changed the game for me.We could all use an emergency dose of resilience to navigate what’s unfolding in our political landscape. Art (and the pure act of being creative) actually helps us become more resilient in our day-to-day. Just as we navigate obstacles in real life, we face similar struggles in our creative work. When a painting feels stuck or you get writer’s block, it resonates with those moments when life veers off course. Both situations demand resilience — the willingness to persist and keep moving forward, even when we can’t see where the path leads.
“Resistance and change often begin in art, and very often in our art; the art of words…the name of our beautiful reward is not profit, it is freedom.”
— Ursula Le Guin
How to get that Big Snake Energy
And now the fun part! Snake print was spotted all over the spring ‘25 runways, with Khaite, Jil Sander, and Dries Van Noten leading the charge.
I consider snake as an edgier alt to the beloved leopard. And it’s just as easy to play around with and incorporate into your existing wardrobe. A flash of phyton instantly sparks personality.
You can dip your toes in with a fun boot from Aeyde or slink in some texture against an all-black ensemble with this Khaite belt. Add some sass to your casual jeans and a tee combo by layering this vintage Bill Blass phyton jacket.
If you’re not ready to channel full-on snake for date night, wear this Ben-Amun snake collar with a cinched collarless blazer and a soft-winged liner.
I’m imagining myself in a white tee tucked into a perfect pair of vintage Levi’s with my favorite leather loafers, and this Dries beauty tucked under my arm. Dreamy.
Ok, that’s it for now.
Wishing you all a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year!
xx AG
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Your newsletter is the second mention of The Artists Way and I’m wondering if it’s time for me to finally open it up. I’m embarrassed to say I’ve owned it for years.
While also not a snake girl myself I am low-key a Swiftie and I appreciated the way Taylor co-opted the symbol that was used against her and made it an integral part of her Reputation era which is still one of the best IMO. I stand with you, channeling our inner serpent!!