As a girl who loved dressing up as a child, I can pretty much confirm that Kate Spade was right when she spoke the famous phrase, “Dressing up begins at age 5 and never really ends.”
Get ready because I’m about to drop some truth bombs on you. I like dressing nice. I was voted Best Dressed in my high school yearbook and I proudly say that I never wore a T-shirt to school. Then I came to college. College has been an interesting journey between dressing comfortably, still looking nice, and fielding comments from those committed to the big T-shirt and leggings style. Before I start this list please know that there’s nothing wrong with wearing T-shirts everyday, it’s just not my personal style.
1. “Do you ever dress comfy?”
For me, wearing sweaters or a button down is comfy. For the longest time I had a hard time explaining this to people, but I am more comfortable wearing “dressy” clothes than wearing typically considered more “comfy” clothes. I feel better and am more confident.
2. “You always make the rest of us look bad.”
Let’s get one thing straight right now, girls who dress up and wear makeup do it for THEMSELVES and no one else. I cannot tell you how annoying it is to be feeling really good about an outfit, or my makeup that day, and to be told I should feel guilty for the way I look. Just like girls who might not wear makeup do not do it to spite girls who do, those who love to wear a full face everyday do not put their makeup on thinking “How can I make other girls look bad?”
3. “I would dress like you if I had the money.”
Dress nice does not have to be expensive. Most if my clothes I bought on sale, of I invest in classic pieces that are good quality that will last forever. I have a J. Crew skirt that I’ve been wearing since sophomore year of high school and I still wear it to formal chapter. My response to this complaint or excuse is to buy things on sale, don't buy trendy things that will not last past their popularity, find classics to invest in, and take care of your clothes.
4. “Do you wear that much makeup because you are insecure?”
I wear makeup because I love it, it’s a passion of mine and to me it’s an art form. Also, I like the way I look with makeup. That does not mean I hate how I look without it. When I first got into makeup my mom was very supportive. In middle school, along with clothes, she kind of let me go wild and do my own thing. I think this was a huge part of why I am confident in the clothes I wear and know what looks good on me and what does not, because I had 4ish years to wear whatever my little preteen mind could come up with.
5. “I just do not have time to dress up everyday.”
Like everything in life, you are going to make time for what you love. If I have to get up thirty minutes earlier in the morning to be able to do my makeup (which by the way, a full face takes me thirty minutes because I have practiced it so much), then I will. I do it because I love it. I also am a firm believer that you never know when you are going to have a date with destiny. I would rather look my best and be confident that I can handle whatever the day throws at me.
I hope that this gave some readers a little insight into the mind of the girl who loves to wear makeup and dress up. And for those who are on the same page as me, I hope this helps you know that it’s okay to love yourself however you choose to dress.
