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Why Personal Style is The Best Form of Self-Expression

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UFL chapter.

Every person is unique, but sometimes it can be difficult to express ourselves. We live in a world with high standards where everyone seems to be on top of the latest fashions. However, this doesn’t have to discourage us. Embracing our own sense of style is one of the top ways to promote self-love. Fashion is my favorite form of expression. No two people have the same exact personal style, which is where the beauty of fashion shines through. Whether we’re boho, preppy or edgy, we can all show the world our distinct ways of approaching fashion, which can lead to a boost in self-confidence.

As designer Rachel Zoe once said, “Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak.” This is one way that fashion is a beautiful form of expression. Some people are shy while others are outgoing. No matter what someone’s personality is, their style can express them even more than their words can. Being confident in our own fashion can speak for itself. People are often apprehensive to express their opinions because of the responses that may come from doing so. With fashion, we can show who we truly are.

So what does our personal style really say about us? Some styles come with certain connotations, but what we wear is really an expression of whatever we want it to be. For example, if someone has an edgy style, it seems that they’re riskier than someone who is preppy. If someone tends to dress more Boho, it seems that they’re more carefree than someone who has more of a vintage style.

Although specific fashions can give off a certain vibe, there’s something truly unique about style. We can change it up whenever we want. When I was a freshman in high school, I was the prep queen. I wore Lilly Pulitzer, Vineyard Vines and just about any other preppy brand imaginable. As I transitioned to being an upperclassmen, this completely changed. I ditched my floral dresses and began dressing much more chic. This change allowed me to express myself in a different way, and I loved it.

Having the ability to alter our personal style isn’t something that is often thought about. Sometimes these changes can be natural with age and time. No matter why our preferred style changes, it can be looked at as powerful change of self-expression.

Another thing I would like to note about fashion is inspiration. We are often inspired by other people, social media, TV shows and movies. Being inspired by others with fashion is like an indirect compliment. Without even realizing it, we can appreciate and praise other’s styles when we’re inspired by a way they wear something. With this, we can create our own variation of what someone else wears and give it a unique spin. This not only upholds self-love, but also appreciation of others.

Along a similar note, social media can play a positive role in expressing our own style and promoting self-love. By posting and sharing what we wear, it shows that we are confident in ourselves. It also gives us the opportunity to show the world how we dress. It is very important to embrace other people’s idea of fashion, even if it doesn’t correlate to our own personal taste.

Self-love and expression is an extremely important practice for everyone. It can be intimidating to express ourselves, so fashion is a perfect way to do this. The options are endless when it comes to fashion, and we can truly do whatever we want. Want to dress up in an edgy outfit just because? You can. Want to completely change your style from what you’re used to? Do it. Fashion is completely personal, and it’s important to feel good about what you’re wearing. There is no better feeling than perfecting your outfit and going out to conquer the world.