I love shopping, and growing up, I treated the mall like a playground. I would dash through the “big girl” stores and dream about wearing the outfits I saw on mannequins and models. When I was finally old enough to wear those outfits, I quickly realised that what I imagined in my head didn’t always work on my body. Let me be very clear: I love my body, but being short and a little curvy isn’t the best combo when trying to find outfits. Shopping trips soon shifted from “this is cute” to “this is cute, but it just doesn’t look good on me.” Jeans went from a wardrobe staple to a chore.Â
Frustrated with my lack of shopping success, I decided to start wearing baggy clothes. This arrangement had many benefits: a pair of baggy jeans might only fit my thighs, but the oversized sweater I wore over it would cover the gap at the waist. That outfit combo carried me through most of high school, and my abundance of sweaters and sweatshirts made picking an outfit easy. However, I soon tired of ill-fitting jeans and decided that athleisure was the only way to go. The end of my high school years saw me wearing leggings and sweatpants almost exclusively, and my sweater collection grew.
After struggling for years to find a pair of jeans that fit, I discovered high-waisted wide-leg jeans. Finally, something that fits both my waist and my thighs! Little did I know that would mark the beginning of my style evolution. With jeans that fit, my outfit possibilities grew. I no longer depend solely on athleisure to build a great outfit. My new wardrobe included cute tops and cropped sweaters that paired well with jeans. However, these newfound combinations could only keep me satisfied for so long; there was still something missing from my wardrobe.
My first year of uni marked my adventure into new territory. I started experimenting with dresses and skirts, which became a game-changer. I found that I had more success finding skirts that fit than pants, so I added them to my wardrobe and started embracing different lengths, shapes, and designs. I also started buying fewer oversized clothing items. My second year of uni saw me experiment with shoes: instead of using my trainers as the go-to shoe, I began wearing boots and heels more often, something I never would have considered during high school. After years of outfit monotony, I found a rhythm that made sense.
Now, I know this entire article has been about moving away from hiding under baggy clothes and embracing new silhouettes. However, loose clothes are still an important part of my personal style. This summer, I found myself embracing baggy clothing like never before. Instead of my typical t-shirt and shorts combo, I began to regularly wear flowy dresses, pants, and skirts. Not only did I not want to feel clothing while walking in the New York City heat, but I also wanted to try something new, and I liked it. It reminded me that baggy clothing was never the enemy, pigeonholing myself was. My years in the mall, trying to find clothes I wanted, left me scared to try something new. In reality, I needed to try something new to find the missing piece I was looking for.
Despite being more in tune with my personal style, shopping is still far from a cakewalk. I still only wear one cut of jeans, and I have to order them in a short length. Maybe one day I will find the courage to finally walk into a store and try on new jeans, but for now, I’m happy with the options I see in my closet. I no longer have to wear the same oversized sweatshirt every day because the perfect dress is hanging right next to it.