I didn’t fully realize what personal style was until I reached high school. Prior to that, I spent the last 8 years of my life wearing a uniform to class everyday. I don’t regret donning the blue/green plaid, but I did learn something much greater in the oncoming years.
I remember when I finally understood what it meant to have personal style. It wasn’t some person who only wears name brand items and what’s trendy. Nor was it what all those magazines told you to be wearing. Instead, it was something much simpler.
Personal style is all about who YOU are! Forget the designer shoes. Your closet should be the best representation of yourself. It is about dressing for you first and forgetting other’s opinions. Personal style should never be about impressing other people; it should be about impressing yourself. Fashion gives us a voice. It gives us the ability to convey who we are without ever saying a word.
When I first began to develop my own personal style, I went through several changes before I found what represented me the best. Each new phase was a learning experience of itself. I went from edgy to vintage and to where I am now. But throughout my stylistic evolution I experienced two important realizations:
EXPERIMENTATION IS KEY
Try on items you never thought you could pull off. There are so many styles out there. Never be afraid to try something new because of someone else. Experimentation keeps you from just going with the norm. By pushing boundaries you may find yourself more open to new things.
WEAR CLOTHES, FEEL GOOD
If it doesn’t make you happy, then it’s not for you. Your clothing should always make you feel like the awesome person you are. And if there isn’t a smile on your face, you’re doing it wrong.
Fashion is supposed to be fun, so don’t limit yourself!