Fashion is a word that automatically conveys strong emotions in pretty much anyone you talk to. On one hand, some people see fashion as what is on the cover of Vogue–a way of dressing that we should strive to achieve. Others want nothing to do with fashion, but instead wear their cargo pants and vintage rock t-shirt to proudly rebel against the system. Still others choose to live with a simple disinterest, rolling their eyes at anyone who tries too hard to be fashionable. What we fail to realize, however, is that each of these individuals has a sense of fashion completely their own.
Fashion impacts all of us. What we wear is a statement. It tells the world who we are, who we perceive ourselves to be or what we would like to become. For me, the right pair of heels gives me the confidence to feel like I can coolly tackle all the day has in store for me. For you, a comfortable pair of athletic pants may be able to do the exact same thing.
While we all have our own style and sense of fashion depending on our perspective and experience, that does not mean we all have to approve of the fashion industry. The fashion industry is what tells us what is "in" or "out," which products will make our life complete, and then conveniently provides us with just the advertisement to fulfill those wants we didn't even know we had. The key word here is "industry." Typical fashion magazines, stores and even some blogs and Instagram accounts have the goal of selling you a product. It feeds our consumeristic mindset. But fashion doesn't have to be that.
Something this industry will never tell you is that you don't have to buy new clothes every season! You can reinvent the clothes you already own in fun and exciting ways. The artist in you can appreciate that stranger on the bus's perfectly fitting leather jacket without feeling the need to personally own it. When your work shirt's button pops, you don't have to go out and buy a new one-- you can sew it back on and no one will judge you. In fact, sew on some crazy colored buttons from your favorite vintage shop! The shirt is now a unique reflection of you and your tastes. No one in the office will have the same thing.
Speaking of vintage, too many people do not maximize the treasure trove that is second-hand shopping! Our clothing is arguably the closest thing to us that we will ever own. We wear it close to our body, it smells like us, it conjures up stories from our past. These stories, however, do not carry on with the clothes themselves. It is so fascinating for me to think of the meaning that a vintage or second-hand find conveyed to its previous owners. Additionally, that cute vintage dress is all your own–no one else will have anything like it.
Don't feel like you have to spend exuberant amounts of money to create the image that you want for yourself. In our consumerist society, it is hard to imagine the reality that with a little extra work, we have more style options to fit any sized pocketbook.
