What we wear is a big part of our lives, it shows our personality and is a way we can express ourselves. An outfit can be used in many ways. However, fashion also has a lot of judgement surrounding it. Here are a few quotes that may make you feel better about your style.
“It’s better to be happy than to be well-dressed.” – Iris Apfel
The most important thing is your happiness, nothing should come before that. If you are not happy with what you are wearing, get changed. Being unhappy could lead to a multitude of problems, like being unhealthy. For example, skipping meals or not eating all day to make the outfit ‘look better’. Fashion is not always about the clothes on your body but being comfortable in. Do not feel pressured to dress a certain way by trends and society. By dressing for other people, your not putting yourself first. Pick something you feel comfortable in and point out the positive aspects of it. When you begin to think of all the negatives, that is when the doubt and anxiety starts to settle.
“Fashion is the armour to survive the reality of everyday life.” – Bill Cunningham
Fashion can be used as an escapism from today’s society. It can be used to distract oneself from the world around them and if that is what makes you happy then use it. However, not everyone who dresses well is doing it just to be trendy. Clothing can be used as a way to hide any vulnerability and to portray a positive front. Never be judgemental of those who spend a lot and invest lots of time into their appearance. This may be their way of covering up their feelings. On the other hand, whilst it can be used as a shield armour is also used to boost confidence. Think about it like you are going to war, you are going to be more confident when you wear armour. So think of fashion that way.
“The secret of great style is to feel good in what you wear.” – Ines de la Fressange
You could be wearing an absolute stunner of an outfit, but if you do not feel comfortable or happy in it then it is going to show. Fashion is not always about the items of clothing themselves but the attitude you wear them with. So wear something that makes you feel good, ignore the judgement you get because they are probably jealous of the confidence you have to wear the outfit. Or try something new, you may look at a piece of clothing and think that it will not suit you, but you can wear anything if you wear it with confidence.
“Fashion is like eating. You shouldn’t stick with the same menu.” – Kenzo Takada
If you have been thinking of changing your style up a bit and have not, see this as your sign to get started now! Take the plunge and shake things up a bit. The more you experiment and the more clothes you try, you may find yourself liking it. If you like to stay in your comfort zone then that is fine. If you do step out of that zone, experiment and do not like it, there is nothing stopping you from going back into your comfort zone and being happy. Do not force yourself to try new things if you know it is not for you. Fashion has an aspect of growth to it, whether you find out that you suit and certain style or not you are still growing.
“Don’t be into trends. Don’t make fashion own you, but you decide what you are, what you want to express by the way you dress and the way to live.” – Gianni Versace
This article may seem like I am bashing fashion trends, but having your own sense of style accentuates your personality and identity; a trend does not. As cool as it may be to be up-to-date with trends, they come with many disadvantages. One of them being that they quickly go out of style. This leaves people draining their bank accounts buying the latest pieces. There is also the possibility of burning out with the stress of trying to keep up and fit in. It is so much easier to live by dressing freely and the way you want to.
“I always find beauty in things that are odd and imperfect, they are much more interesting.” – Marc Jacobs
Never feel like the way you dress is unusual, ugly or out of fashion. There are going to be people that hate on others for the way they dress, that is the way they are. There are going to be people who do not care about fashion, thus not caring about what you are wearing. On the other hand, there are those will admire your boldness and the way you dress. Remember that beauty comes in all different forms.
“We all need a splash of bad taste – it’s hearty, it’s healthy, it’s physical.” – Diana Vreeland
It is healthy to have “bad taste” as there are multiple reasons as to why ‘good taste’ is unhealthy. It is not necessarily the ‘good taste’ part that is unhealthy but the lengths people go to achieve it. There are many ways that fashion can affects ones mental health, such as a constant anxiety that people are judging an outfit. Or an obsession with the fact that you have to dress a certain way to impress someone or become superior to someone. Then there are the negative body image opinions and thoughts that come with it. So, sometimes, having a different taste in fashion may lessen the pressure of the issues mentioned above.