how to succeed in fashion without really trying....
as i mentioned in my previous post, i’ve gone through many changes in my relationship with fashion that have brought me here, to a place where i can feel comfortable wearing what i want and not just to claim some aesthetic that will blow up and become overrated in a month. when i moved to college, my closet space was obviously downsized, and although that didn’t stop me from trying to bring everything i owned with me, i had to take a finer look at the pieces i really want to wear and, most importantly, would wear. at the beginning of the school year, i was so excited at this newfound fashion freedom and wanted every outfit to be elevated, avant garde, runway ready, and never-before-seen. c’mon. be real, liv. yeah that didn’t last long. and as time went on i found myself drawn to the same few pieces, which became my staples, which became my favorite things. because of my finite amount of space, i had to be careful when shopping, if at all. only pieces that are a) affordable b) if not affordable worth the price so it could c) last into adulthood, which means it should be d) timeless to a certain degree. when you start looking at clothes as investments, it changes your perception of fashion. clothes shouldn’t be as disposable as they’ve become. i mean we all know by now that fast fashion has gotten out of control and how aesthetics are changing at an unprecedented rate, i won’t bore you with that. (and if you don't know let me know if you wanna hear more about it) it makes shopping more fun for me when i see a piece and i can picture it in so many different scenes of my life. for example, for about a month i was on the hunt for a bag, a tote bag (possibly hobo style) big enough for my laptop, but not so big that a medium sized dog could fit in it. i pictured leather, because it’s classic and timeless and adult. adults have nice bags. they carry them to work, slide them under the seat of a plane, take them to 'go out.' it would fit my headphones, notebook, book, and laptop when i go to a cafe for the day. or the magazine and book i just bought during my day out on the town then still store a sandwich from the local favorite. it should be black and sleek; a bag that could go anywhere and still fit whoever i want to be that day. get what i mean? yeah it’s time consuming and maybe i overthink it, but it also prevents me from buying something i end up shoving to the back of the closet and regret wasting money on.
so how does this help you dress better? maybe it doesn't, but treating my closet like a slowly growing investment has helped me slow down consuption, which in turn has given me time to step back and cultivate my personal style. so i will try to explain as best i can how i've been dressing and why i think this feels the most me. the brief way of putting it is that i make a basic outfit a 'fit' by adding at least one funky element, such as with a hat, jewelry, layering, something out of the mainstream, or a statement piece. allow me to elaboarte...
the first easy way to elevate any outfit is to start with simple bones and add a statement piece, whether that be with a hat, jacket, spicing up a shirt by cutting the collar, or with an actual statement item. this is a beginner level way to break into personal style, so if you're looking for cracked out tiktok fashion this isn't the place.
this is a prime example of the 'one funky element' rule. get yourself a fuzzy bucket hat, a cabbie hat, one of those slouchy beret type things. i'm literally wearing leggings and a sweatshirt in both of these, but i've tricked onlookers into thinking this is a moment because these are epic hats. and they're readily available; the houndstooth one i got at a local boutique and the beret/beanie thing i got at target. when it comes to hats, the dorkier you think it is, the cooler you look. i promise. the difference between a basic outfit and a classics outfit is all about the silhouette. the best way to make this work is if the base of the outfit is simple and classic, looking at 'model off duty' and the 90s for inspiration. with everyday basics like straight-leg jeans, classic cut t-shirts, band tees, yoga pants, anything that goes with everything and can stand the test of time. borrowing from your mom's (or dad's) closet is always a good bet because they'll probably have clothes that haven't been tainted by the fast-fashion fairy. i know saying 'back in the day' makes me sound like your mom, but they had some good stuff back in the day! i love taking inspiration from the past, and if part of your outfit is slightly out of the mainstream, but still classic, it just makes the fit look more unique. lately i've been very inspired by 2012/millennial/nyc-ish style, hence the beanie. but the way i make it work is by pairing some out of the mainstream element, like the beanie or this pair of skinny bootcut jeans i have, with something more normal and classic. the one funky element i add gives the illusion of individuality.
the next step is inspired my my personal hero chloe sevingy with something i like to call the high-low rule, which is essentially pairing something typically high fashion with something casual, or edgy, or of the opposite aesthetic. pictured here is what was almost a normal outfit with jeans and a sweatshirt, then i had to go and make it weird (and teaching assistant-esque) by adding a blazer. nice + casual = easily fitted up! below is an outfit that was almost country club casual with an eyelet lace dress, but when i added this....i'm not really sure what to call it jacket, it toned down the springtime vibes of the dress. you can't tell if I'm going to the dive bar or the driving range--maybe both!
another accessory you may notice about these outfits is messy, i'll admit, very dirty hair. hair is very important to me and i approach my styling and care as if it was not just hair, but an extension of myself. it's another realm of self expression, so no outfit of mine is complete without making my do fit the vibe or act as my 'one funky element.' like making a basic leggings and sweatshirt less basic with pigtails in messy buns or a slicked-back high pony-braid. these looks needed the extra edge, so i jilted the wash, threw on some dry shampoo and texturizing spray, and called it a fit. if you don't like it, you just don't get it!
and the final and most important step: be true to yourself! the perfect wardrobe doesn't appear overnight and neither does personal style. it's something you have to develop over time through trial and error, so it will never happen organically if you're shopping for trends and not following your heart. i will die on the hill of thrifting, and one of the many pros is that it's the best place to start developing your personal style because there's so many opportunities to find one-of-a-kind items! i've been really enjoying these principles i've realized of myself because it feels like what my gut's been looking for all along. it's simple, but put together, but bold when i want it to be, and just the right amount of funk that i can carry. so if my vibe doesn't feel like your journey, that's okay! there are many ways to develop personal style and realizing what you don't like and that you might be forcing something is an important step. follow the styles that you feel like your truest self in, and you'll always be stylish.
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