OK, so on my way to the rank to get a taxi to V&A Waterfront for an interview, I recognize a former classmate from Grade 5. She’s cleaning the streets. But it reminds me of the winter we were introduced to a blazing hot new teacher that all the older girls in my class felt attracted to. If I remember correctly, he was wearing a suit and a coat. He was doing something other teachers didn’t bother to do: dress up! And it was so easy to listen to him because he was presentable and neat and actually looked like he knew what he was doing.

So I decide to greet this girl like a former classmate would. She’s on duty and she greets back and then follows up with an odd request. She says, “Zee, ndicela undiphe imali,” meaning ‘Zee can you give me money?’

Like, WTF? I thought. Then I just blurted out a response: “Like, what makes you think I have money? Is it written on my forehead that I have money?”

She then said, “You’re dressed like you have money.” I was so upset because I was really broke.

I felt bad for this response for a moment, and then I just chuckled because it kinda made sense. I was wearing a black and white dress which I found on a clearance sale and white stilettos which I got as a birthday gift, and I was rocking my sunglasses while she was in track pants and chucks. If only she knew she was richer than me.

I realized that fashion and style portray a certain image about a person. What I’m getting at is that when you dress, don’t let your struggles show. Always dress the way you want to see your future or ideal self when you look in the mirror. Make sure you look smart.

My reality is that I don’t have money or a trust fund but when people look at me – my image – they don’t see that I’m poor. They don’t need to know or see that. For me dressing up boosts my confidence. I’m one step from success because I look like I want to succeed and so people will take me seriously.

Have people ever judged you because of the way you dress? Tell me about it…..

Written by Zikhona Gwadiso

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XOXO
Just Trendi