Here’s the thing ladies and gents, you’re gonna read all sorts of fashion do’s and don’t’s in your life: You shouldn’t wear silver and gold together, you shouldn’t wear white after Labor Day, you should do this and not that…blablablah. But how relevant and necessary are these tips if they’re limiting your personal style? Does it really matter if you want to wear an all white look in November or if you want to wear a gold necklace and silver cap toe boots together? I know you’re asking yourself “Gabriela, I really don’t know the answer to this…please fashion goddess, please help me.” Well lucky for you, I’m here to do just that.
Wear Whatever You Want to Wear
Disclaimer: I’m not saying you should wear hot-pants and a crop top to your 8 a.m. journalism class, but I am saying that it’s called personal style for a reason. Fashion is a liberating and amazing way to express yourself, and if you want to wear something out of the ordinary, like God forbid white the last day of September, be my guest. Rules are meant to be broken and it’s oh so fun to be a little fashion rebel every once in a while. You have the right to wear your oversized leather jacket with silver spikes, with velvet leggings and a gold necklace. If you feel confident, it shows, I promise.
Think Outside the Box and Challenge Yourself
You have the amazing opportunity of turning a new leaf and having a fresh start every single day. You can be anyone you want because your potential is limitless… how great is that?! You can also most certainly use fashion as a way to help create whatever persona you want. Think outside the box with your style, be innovative, challenge yourself and dress in a unique way. To be an innovator you have to be ahead of the trends. May as well take risks and have fun— if you’re fortunate enough to take advantage of clothing as an art form you may as well really work it. Challenge yourself to never wear the same outfit twice, yes you can wear the same pieces, but wear them differently than you did last time (accessories really help with this). Have fun with your style, it’s refreshing to see people who are unapologetically themselves.
Stop Caring What Other People Think
Yes, you will probably get a mean side eye from the lady at Cool Beans and a laugh from someone at Russell House, but I promise, as soon as you stop caring it won’t matter. It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks about your awesome Homies shirt or your kick-ass Unif pants because the only person’s opinion who matters is yours. I have half my head shaved, I wear lipstick literally every day (usually a bright red) and I dress like a mad woman. I get stares and glances and it bothered me a lot at first, but then I realized that I really don’t care what these random people think because there’s a lot more to me than the fact that I look different. The same goes for you too; you are so much greater than whatever outfit you wear. You are a soul in a body and that in itself is beautiful. People are going to judge you regardless, so why not once again, liberate yourself from this burden and stop caring?! Accept that you’ll get weird looks and OWN IT! Seriously, nothing shocks judgmental folks than an authentic smile. May as well send em some love while you’re at it, I feel bad for people who spend their time judging others, it says a lot more about them than the person they’re judging.
Stop Being Limited by You Location
I’m not talking about weather here, folks. Of course, you should dress weather appropriately; I’m in no way not condoning that. What I mean by stop being limited by your environment is that little voice in your head telling you that you would look ridiculous wearing so and so in Columbia needs to be. Believe me, I understand that Columbia isn’t NYC, I get that things that I could wear in the Big Apple wouldn’t fly down here. Here’s the thing though: Pretend this is NYC. Yes, muchachos y muchachas, you read that right. Pretend that the humid sidewalks of Columbia are the sleek streets of NYC. Make a conscious decision to wear whatever you want, even though you’re in South Carolina, or West Virginia or Texas.. it’s all the same. I remember first semester, freshman year I made a decision to wear whatever I wanted to wear no matter what; I gave myself the freedom of self-expression because let’s face it…no one else was going to. No one is going to tell you it’s okay to be unique and awesome and different, so you may as well save yourself the trouble and tell it to yourself.
So lovebugs, wear what makes your heart flutter. Wear what brings color to your cheeks and a smile to your lips. Wear what makes your soul whisper secrets to you. Wear what you truly, truly feel beautiful or handsome in… you deserve it.