How do I find my style? How can I express my personality through fashion without feeling like I’m wearing a costume? How can I stop caring what people think about how I dress? Is it wrong to wear clothes of the opposite gender? How can I determine what truly looks good on me?
I have to say I am absolutely obsessed with these questions. Style is a big part of my life and something I like to put an emphasis on. The biggest thing about style is showing off who you are — it’s a form of artistry.
Finding your style is a hard question to answer because our styles come to us as we grow and develop. It’s always going to be changing, but that is part of the fun. When I wanted to find my style for my freshman year, I looked at old pictures of myself to see what style I had that complimented my appearance. After that, I looked online to find influencers that had styles I enjoyed. Then, without breaking the bank, I started to change my style to match the look I had in my head.
Changing your style based on others is almost like wearing a costume. At first, I was a little lost with who I had become. But when you start to lose sight of the person you are, the best thing is to spend time alone to reintroduce yourself. Never let your own image disappear in an attempt to be someone you think other people want to see. Just because your style is inspired by someone else’s does not mean you can’t make it your own. One thing I adore is when people incorporate parts of their culture into a style that does not inherently incorporate that culture. And no matter how you dress, it should feel natural or at least make you feel like the version of you, you need to be.
No matter how you find your style there will be the social aspect impacting how you view your image. Trying to stop caring about what people think is really hard. Instead of acting like you do not care, learn to listen to the right voices. There are always gonna be people there to support you and complement you. So instead of listening to the people that try to put you down, focus on the people lifting you up. Those are the people that truly deserve your beauty.
I really need us as a society to stop giving clothes a gender. Clothes may be designed for a specific body type, but both women and men can have similar body types. It’s not about wearing the clothes of the right gender, it’s about wearing clothes that complement your body and the person inside of it. Do not allow gender norms to stop you from wearing something that makes you feel beautiful or handsome.
Honestly, we will never see ourselves the way others see us, and determining whether something looks good in their perspective versus our own is the real question. The people that truly matter will see your beauty when you do not and will tell you the truth when you imagine it. Everyone has moments of beauty and moments of unattractiveness, but as long as we are comfortable in our skin and our clothes, we will all be OK.
Do you need some advice? Are people in your life too indecisive? Do you need a new point of view?
Just email me at [email protected].
