Article Featured on Our Era Magazine
I got your attention, didn't I? Now in means to the title of this article you have been graced by the realms of the universe, and this relic of advice I am about to give you is going to be the Second Awakening in your fashion style career. Throughout lockdown and much of this year, there has been a cultural shift from basic to trendy. Cheerleaders are starting to skate, dressing baggy is more culturally appropriate than most political beliefs, and everyone, especially gen z is trying to find…✨individuality✨. I struggled with this myself, but what I have realized was that I had been holding back from embodying my full fashion self. Inside the jail cell of my mind, I was locked up, cradling my self esteem selfishly thinking, when will I ever be able to wear what I want. My mind scrambled back and forth and back and forth. Oh don't wear that, too much attention, everyone will look at you. Or my favorite excuse, “it’s just not me”, no honey it is you, but that small demeaning self conscious subconscious of yours is doubting that it's you. Do not listen, I repeat, DO NOT LISTEN.
Reason number one: beige theorm
Now don't get me wrong, I love beige, very fashion forward and trendy, but listen to how it sounds in your mouth. Beige. Uhhh, I'm shivering now. Beige is well blah and blah is bleh and bleh is bbbbbbbbbbbbblandddd. And bland is basic. When one dresses basic, one presumably does not know they dress basic, so we redact to the beige theorem. Reach into your closet, how many white “going out” tops do you have? Three, four, Six?, Eight?! You have now failed the beige theorem. How many pairs of jeans do you have, they are all the same style but in different shades? Honey no, you have failed the beige theorem, or should I say passed? You get the point, you got an A. For inAdequate! Just act like the in is not there. Also, first of all in fashion, there are no categories of clothes. There is no, “oh I need to save this for this event” and “oh, I don't want to use up all my good clothes''. Listen to yourself, you sound insane. Wear what you want to wear when you want to wear it. Over dressing is impossible, it's only over dressing if you make it to be. Basically, you need more style variety. Throw in a fuzzy bucket hat, a colored wrangler pant, hell, buy a pair of vintage overalls. To give you a head start, I recommend checking out @rbfunkycreations on instagram, they have some amazing stuff and are very sustainable. Link provided here: https://www.instagram.com/rbfunkycreations/
Reason number two: doubt
Webster’s dictionary defines doubt as a feeling of uncertainty and lack of convention. Ever wonder why it takes you soooooo long to pick out an outfit. Doubt. Having trouble shopping for the right clothes. Doubt. Don't have a sense of who you are in fashion. Also doubt. So how do we assassinate the devil of doubt. No thought, pure raw emotions. If you are spending more than 10 mins picking out an outfit, that should sound the alarms. Styling isn't rocket science. This took me almost a year to perfect, so don't give yourself a hard time. Sophomore year, I told myself, I am going to dress cute everyday. At first it was hard, I felt like I was running out of options creatively. Then I expanded my closet, adding a variety of colors and making sure I didn't buy pieces that were similar to each other. (example being the eight white “going out” tops in the same 4 different styles) Personally, what I recommend is a second opinion. Go to a friend, phone your mother, get some reassurance. After a while, you don't need that. You will be fully confident in your style choices and people will start to notice before you do.
Number three: you don't accessorize
In this context, I’m you. (long yawn sound) AhHHHHHHhhhhh, good morning world, what should I wear today? Some well fitted blue jeans? Yes mam. Oh and look at this adorable ribbed white tank top! I’m ready to go. Walking down the stairs, about to exit my home, I set out the door. AHHHHHHHHHHH, a halloween scream echoes in the distance. I continue to walk. AHHHHHHH NOOOO PLEASEEEE!!! It follows. Soon euphoric wind chimes begin raining down in sound and a fashion fairy felicia falls to her feet, hysterically crying and screaming. “Woah woah woah woah, What’s wrong! Are you okay?!” I expel. The fashion fairy quickly responds, in a panting manner, “Why no, you’re, You’re, YOU’RE-”. “I’m what?” I respond. “YOU’RE NAKEDDDD!” she flanders and faints unconsciously to the floor. I stand in confusion and think to myself, how can I be naked I have clothes on? However things become apparent to me. I trace my ringless hands across my bare chest, coddling my ear lobes and watching my wrists. I am naked with accessories. A code violation 3478 in fashion law. I could be convicted of this god forsaken crime. I burst back up my stairs, trudding back and forth between my steps. Flash to my room, bolting to my jewelry box. Snip, snap, shazam. I have clipped in my gold earrings, clasped my necklaces, looped my belt, and snatched my bracelets. As I stutter down the stairs, the fashion fairy has regained her consciousness and thanks me for her revival. She blesses me with infinite accessories, belts galore, a mansion of marvelous jewels, diamonds, and rubies. Now I didnt make up this whole story for you to forget. GET THOSE ACCESSORIES ON GIRL. Side note: fashion fairies are real.
Number four: you stick to only one style of clothing
I understand dress for your body type. Sike! No I don't that doesn't exist. Dressing for your body type isn't real, it's a social construct. No such thing as flattering for your body. Big girls can wear crop tops and small girls can wear oversized hoodies. Why does everyone feel like they need to look skinny all the time. Are you even doing it for yourself or are you doing it for the validation? Yes, we did swim on the deep side of the pool for this one but truly asking yourself. Who are you dressing for? If you're saying anyone besides yourself, I recommend you begin starting over. If you are stuck wearing the same skinny flare pant jeans with a tight little crop top, hold my hand and jump with me. Pull out some sweatshorts, possibly some cargo jean shorts too. Layer t-shirts, embark with collars, tights and leg warmers. Start dressing baggy. The bigger the pants the better the look. That's what I always say. Billie eilish that ish. Who are you dressing for again? YOU. Dress for YOU. To make baby steps I recommend trying a baby tee and baggy pant look, throw your hair in a spunky 2000s hair style and show some appreciation for black women. Who I must give credit to cultivating 2000s fashion from it’s core. pSssst, Y2k is not paris hilton by the way.
Number five: you don't know wear to shop
If you are anything like me and absolutely HATE having the same clothes as other people, well I have a solution for you. Thrift shop! When you go thrifting you save the environment, you don't feed into fast fashion brands, and you find unique clothes that no one else has. I love thrifting and recently it has become a bit of an addiction. You know how boys love fishing, well chandler loves thrifting. It’s an evolution. Also, if anyone ever tells you that you shouldn't thrift because those clothes are for the less fortunate, please tell them they are wrong. 70 percent of all clothing donations are thrown into dumpsters and burned, leaving a huge carbon footprint on our environment. Thrifting isn't for everyone either, so below I have listed some unique stores with sustainable clothing that are worth your while. And remember, no matter if you dress basic or if you dress alternatively or gothic or whatever, dress for yourself. Who are you dressing for again? You.
Viva Aviva, https://www.vivaaviva.com/shop
Pyer Moss, https://www.pyermoss.com
Sincerely Tommy, https://sincerelytommy.com
Stray Rats, https://store.strayrats.com
Pretties, https://www.prettiesvenice.com
Mimi Wade, https://mimiwade.com/
Juliet Johnstone, https://julietjohnstone.com/
Cool is a Construct, https://coolisaconstruct.com/
Madness, https://www.mdnsonline.com
The Kript, https://www.thekriptstore.com
Creeps, https://creeps.love
Kiki riki, https://kikiriki.com
Gang young, https://www.shopgangyoung.com
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