I’ve been creating content for 7 years now. It all started with a fashion blog where I intended to share a certain point of view about personal style, about what makes me, well… me. I used to write posts about different ways to style some pieces, challenging my readers to wear clothes in a different way. Helping them by my experience, to create new combinations so that they could make their outfit more personal (as I thought it would). Back then, there were no TikTok, IG Reels, or even IGTV for that matter. So every piece of information that I wanted to share, I needed to write a post about it, take photos, and then upload one of those photos to Instagram.
As this industry of content creators is growing and growing, so is the missguided information. New pop culture references are born, so are the “cores” or nonsense labels; we used to call a smokey brown eye makeup just that, but now it’s called “Espresso makeup”. The constant need to rebrand everything so it fits a more elaborate label, it's really tiring me out. Just call things what they are, thank you. I know that everyone can share their thoughts on social media, as I'm currently doing. I can’t help but notice that almost every six scrolls appears some video, with a message of pressure to find your personal style. Leading you to follow some generic rules, and just as simple as that, you’ll have it! Congratulations, by the way.
For me, personal style it’s not just about clothing combinations, it’s not about standing out from the rest, or making my outfit more interesting. It is definitely not about forcing myself to fit in a specific and nonsense lifestyle. But about ME; my personality, my interests, my actual lifestyle, the way I speak, my opinions, my references, my curiosity, my knowledge, my confidence, my self esteem, my goals, my job, my personal take on fashion… and so on.
7 years ago I used to think that I had a personal style, or whatever that meant for me back then. Because I really thought I knew who I was. Looking back, I know I didn’t, and that’s totally ok. I don't think that the word “finding” in this journey it’s accurate, because you will never actually find it. If you are 20 years old, I’m pretty sure, and trust me on this… you haven’t even “found” yourself yet. Therefore you can’t be pushed to find your personal style as some goal that you should have already achieved by that age.
Now as I’m almost 31 years old, I have more knowledge and confidence about myself. I know now what I want to get, and where I want to go from the way I dress. For me, It’s about the clothes accompanying my personality, not overshadowing it. I don’t feel the need anymore to be perceived as someone who dresses “differently”, as it used to be when I was 24 years old. Back then I wanted to be perceived as a creative, innovative and fashion driven woman. I used to mix patterns, colors, wear shirts as skirts, socks with heels, and make myself believe that more was more. I started thrifting, and also upcycling some pieces, to once again, make them more “different” than the rest. Looking back, there are some things that remain in my essence and I’m sure they will continue to evolve with me. I know now that It’s not about getting dressed for everybody else, but just for me, for the life I want, and what I feel comfortable and empowered in.
I’ve discovered over the years what suits me and my lifestyle, the colors and structures that I like, and sometimes with that comes outfit repetition. If you are a millennial like me, the quote “Lizzie McGuire you are an outfit repeater” it’s stuck in our brains. Somewhere along our teenage years we truly believed that we needed a new outfit every time we stepped out the door, and if you dared to repeat some piece of clothing, you were not “IT”. But today I can confidently say, yes I'm an outfit repeater, why shouldn’t I be? Repetition gives you a sense of self-belonging, it helps you understand what you like, and what you don't, it may even give you confidence overtime, and of course, save you money. It is in this repetition that we find ourselves. Sometimes it may even turn out as a kind of a personal uniform by combinations that are your unique true self.
We live in a very fast-paced world, where there is this pressure to always be wearing trends. To know what will be “it” next season. To “find” yourself so you will be the most different and authentic person out there. As sociologist Elena Esposito said: “Fashion is what helps us appear unique, but, paradoxically, we do what everyone does: continue until the next thing arises.”
Is it wrong? Is it right? I guess the answer will depend on what you want to get out of the way you use Fashion. It may help you get the job you want, give you confidence and comfort. It may help you be more extroverted or outspoken. It may help you elevate your mood. It may help you discover a new side of you. Or even help you be someone else for a day. After all, I think that fashion should be used however it works better for you. As for me, I don’t find myself wondering if my outfit is communicating “creative, innovative, fashion driven woman”. I know now I’m that woman.
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