If there was one thing I wish I were better at it would be having an eye for fashion. Okay, if I was better at at three things, the last would be fashion. The other two would be remembering things and math past the 6th grade.
I do not remember ever having an anchored down sense of style. If history is a pretty good indicator:
I’ve gone through many phases of what I thought I wanted my style to be, but in all actuality, I had no flipping clue. There were pieces of clothing I’d like, but I never ever knew how to put them together with other pieces to make a solid outfit. And I still don’t. I pretend I do, but I seriously don’t. When I go to a store I look at the mannequins and try to pick out what they are dressed in because otherwise I’d have no idea what I was doing.
This started back in junior high when I started picking clothes out for myself. Can we all just let out an exaggerated groan as we remember that awkward, yet freeing time in our tween life? I’d run around with my friends at the mall going through the 5-7-9, Wet Seal, and Claire’s picking really random items I liked but had nothing to pair with: a plaid wool skirt, a black choker with a huge silver heart dangling from it, a snap-at-the-crotch BODYSUIT for God’s sake, black and white platform Sketchers, knee high socks, butterfly clips…. God bless the 90s. But I’d have all these random items and put them with frumpy things like tapered jeans and culottes shorts. It was an awful train wreck of a wardrobe, let me tell you.
As high school progressed I geared toward color trends. Navy, beige, gray, tan. My mom HATED it. She tried so hard to infuse color into my closet, bless her. And looking back, I don’t blame her. Polo shirts, overalls, sweaters, graphic tees….that’s about all I wore. I did okay with church clothes. Sundresses and tailored button downs with a token black skirt were my best friend. But still, I had no sense of style.
And it continued. In college I bought more of the same, just newer. I resorted to sweatshirts and jeans most of the time. American Eagle, Aeropostale, Abercrombie and Fitch (on clearance), and Old Navy were my stores of choice. I really did not know how to dress “smart”.
When I got out into the real world and became all adult-like, I figured it was time to get serious. I had a salary job, and walking into work with clothes that smelled like the sandwich shop I worked part time at through college probably wasn’t acceptable. So, I said goodbye to American Eagle and hello to New York and Company.
I have kind of clung on to that store for awhile to supply my teaching wardrobe. They are great for teachers because they have cute stuff that is decently priced. And it was even better for me because their stores are kind of organized by color and outfits. BUT, even with all of those options, I tended to wear black pants with a trendy-ish top. It was safe. Sometimes I’d do white or gray pants, but then I wouldn’t really know what shirt to wear with them. Threw my whole game off. And then adding accessories? It was just too much, people. I was so confused about what to wear. I’d see a big chunky necklace, but would not know what to wear it with. Everything had to match. This wearing opposite colors together thing was beyond me. And multiple patterns. Give me a migraine.
One year when I was visiting the states while living in Japan, my bff and I were shopping and she took me to some stores I had never been to. They were boutique-y (yet affordable) and, to be honest, I had never shopped in stores like that before. I found I liked a variety of clothes outside of the New York & Company/JCPenny/Bealles/Gap boxes. Not saying there is anything wrong with them AT ALL–I still shop there and I always will–but, it opened my eyes to detail, uniqueness, and different styles.
Over the past two years or so I’ve been slowly coming into my own style. I’ve realized what I’m comfortable in, what cuts and colors flatter me, how to pair items together. I’ve learned I like feminine when I go out and sweat pants when I stay in. I’ve learned I do like skirts and skinny jeans ’cause I have awesome legs. And pale is okay. In fact, it is beautiful.
It doesn’t come naturally, but I’m learning to pay more attention.
I’ve had clothes sitting in my closet that I’ve had for years and years that I barely wear because I don’t feel right in them. So, I’ve cleaned my closet out and I’m starting over. I’ve been selling a lot of pieces lately and would eventually like to give my closet a Ty Pennington makeover into something of this nature:
Most of it will have to wait until I get a job, but in the meantime I’m having fun looking.
In the grand scheme of things, does fashion really matter? No. But at this point in my life I have grown to appreciate it. After all, design is a form of art, no matter what the media, and being a creative person myself, I get it. You cannot deny that the vision it takes to see a roll of fabric and imagine this is incredible. A woman’s body is a beautiful and incredibly complex thing, so to be able to accentuate, define, and compliment it well is so admirable to me.
2 Comments
Love this! I was the same way till later this year I figured I should start to somewhat care about my style! i love the kind of classy/casual look. A nice mini jacket with a belt over a blouse with jeans and converse. I am also a sucker for wedges!
A girl after my own heart! Love converse and love wedges! 🙂