If someone were to ask me to describe my dress style, I wouldn’t really know what to say.

In one of my favourite books, Eat Pray Love, the author Elizabeth Gilbert talks about how she “cherry picks” religion – choosing the bits of different religions and philosophies that work for her. When it comes to fashion, I love to go “cherry picking.”

I find inspiration in every different style, dress code and brand. I choose the things that work for me and ignore the ones that don’t. For example, I really like the leather jackets and chokers of the emo/goth style, but I don’t like studded belts – and I definitely like some colour in my outfit!

I also wear a lot of items and outfits that are hipster/artsy, classy, or cutesy. Lately I really enjoy wearing hippie clothing, like comfortable hippie pants, headbands, and patterned skirts. Sometimes, I’ll mix-and-match these styles, like wearing a floral hippie headband together with a classic/classy black dress and some gothic/indie ankle boots.

My clothing comes from a mix of different places, too. Though a lot of it comes from mainstream shops – and a lot is “hand-me-downs” from my sister and mom – I also really enjoy shopping at charity shops, thrift fairs, and second hand shops, where I find a lot of unique items.

I don’t think it’s shameful or embarrassing to shop at these places, or to wear my sister’s and mom’s old clothes. When I wear them, they become “mine”, since they sit differently on my body and I pair them with different items.

Accessories – or lack thereof – are a key part of any outfit. My favourite accessory is my watch. I wear it every day. My grandmother bought it for me for my 18th birthday. It reminds me of her, but it also reminds me of my mom, who had a similar watch that she used to wear every day.

I also really enjoy wearing earrings, especially cute or quirky ones. Sometimes, if I lose one earring in a set, I’ll wear it together with another “single” earring to make a unique, mismatched pair! One of my favourite pairs is shaped like little owls, and my little brother bought them for me. I love it when items of clothing or accessories are gifts, because then they remind me of that special person every time I wear them.

The important thing is that I wear what I want to wear. I choose clothing that I feel good in and like myself in. One of my friends is in her thirties and always dresses like a “typical student” – skinny jeans, hoodies, and sneakers. Some people tease her for not dressing “her age”, but I think it’s awesome that she dresses in a way that she’s comfortable with, rather than in the way society tells her she “should” dress.

The way we dress is one of the ways in which we express ourselves, and I think it’s important for us to always dress in a way that we feel reflects and shows who we are and how we feel. That’s why my style is a mix-and-match style that is unique to me.

Written by Aimee-Claire Smith

***

Hey you 🙂 Help us improve our Just Trendi blogs by answering the following question.

How frequently do you read the Just Trendi blogs and do you find them interesting?