Am I Stylish, or Easily Influenced?
Written By : Grace Weidenhamer
My style has seen the best and the worst of fashion trends. It’s gone through experimentation, identity crises, and mental breakdowns. It’s evolved with me through different stages of life, from rebuilding after heartbreak to transitioning into adulthood. There was the edgy era, the bohemian era, the old money country club era, and, of course, the 2020 pandemic TikTok microtrend era which we all fell victim to in some capacity.
I’ve been thinking back to the different eras of my style and how it’s evolved throughout the years. I’m not sure I have a classification of my current style, but that’s kind of exciting; trying to figure it out in this new stage of life. As I am reflecting, I have the opportunity to ask myself,
“What do I actually like?”
In recent years, I’ve collected mainly basics or pieces that could be worn for various purposes. A capsule wardrobe, if you will. A shirt that can be worn to work but then transition to a cute outfit for date night or dinner with the girls. Very “business in the front, party in the back.”
Now, don’t get me wrong I do love a good blazer and sweater, a solid pair of denim, and a good penny loafer, but I also sort of miss the way I used to experiment with my outfits. Although, maybe I’m still experimenting, just in a different way.
Back in the day, I was very trendy. I still made my style mine through thrifting and upcycling and whatnot, but it was all very “of the times.” A sweater I wore to death one season would be donated or sold the next. Nothing in my closet was permanent. It was fun, but also wasteful. I jumped from aesthetic to aesthetic based on what was in, what I was watching or listening to, and what I saw my favorite YouTubers wearing. A lot of it was bold, but still based on what the fashion influencers were wearing.
So yes, I had many fashion eras, but I didn’t have a particular style that I identified as mine. That leads me back to the question I’ve been pondering: “What do I actually like?”
I think one way we can determine if we actually like a style, or if it’s just all over our FYP’s, is by tuning out trends. Take a break from browsing the New Arrivals page and determine what you truly love out of what you already have.
Does your “favorite sweater” only get worn with one specific outfit? Maybe it’s not actually your favorite. What pieces do you reach for over and over again? What accessories do you gravitate to? What do you put on when you want to feel confident? Take a day to audit your clothes and how you feel wearing them. Do you feel like your best self in those jeans, or were they just the ones your favorite influencer linked in their bio?
Another thing to consider is whether your fashion preferences are to fit in, or to stand out. Do you view yourself as a fashion icon but only wear the latest trends? Do you put on an outfit and think, “People will really like this one.” So really, the question is: is your style really you, or what you think people will like?
That’s a way I think I’m experimenting in this phase of life. Not with bold color combinations or sparkles (okay, sometimes sparkles), but with who I’m dressing for: me, or how I want others to perceive me?