BURY ME IN PEARLS: a guide to personal style
Updated: Oct 1, 2021
The thing about personal style is it is something that you work on; it doesn't happen overnight. It is vital to consider ALL aspects of fashion: footwear, accessories, jewellery, occasionwear, eveningwear, and daywear and of course the overall branches of womenswear and menswear.
WRITE A LIST WITH THE AFOREMENTIONED CATEGORIES (on paper or electronically)
Just like i did when i was constructing this list because i'm just like you in the way that i've got to learn too.
2. TURN YOUR HANGER AROUND SO THE HOOK IS FACING YOU AND WHEN YOU WEAR A GARMENT, PUT IT BACK THE OTHER WAY AROUND.
This is a visual way for you to see what you have worn and what you don't lean towards.
3. WHAT IS YOUR COLOUR SCHEME? WHAT SILHOUETTES DO YOU GRAVITATE TOWARDS?
personally, i favour red, leopard print, black and white. i enjoy a fur; i don't have any vintage fur but i have found fur trim collars in op shops and they have elevated my look. i adore jewellery hence the pearls, and the kind of jewellery and accessories i choose directly aligned with the colour palette; gold, diamantes, pearls (of course!), and unique shapes and sizes and they serve as my point of difference against a rather simple colour scheme.
4. SOCIAL MEDIA IS POWERFUL - FOLLOW PEOPLE WHO LOOK AND DRESS LIKE YOU
Despite disagreeing with the term flattering as it is inherently fatphobic, I like to know what a garment will look like on my body so when i took the opportunity to diversify my feed to those who possessed my height or carried the weight in their stomach, or had a bigger bust, i found myself to be more inspired and in touch with fashion. Check out: Kimberly , Moe Black, Alexis, for more inspiration.
5. IT'S JUST AS IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU DON'T LIKE
Just like in our respective dating lives, we have our icks when it comes to fashion. I wouldn't be caught dead in a lime green puffer jackets and orange pants the same way, i wouldn't date a guy with a mullet, both are quite innocuous but, i still dislike it and that's okay and in no way should this prohibit you from rocking either styles (queer people have brought style to the mullet), especially since mullets are a rebellion against conventional beauty standards.
6. YOU DON'T NEED TO COMMIT TO AN AESTHETIC
Although aesthetics were created in favour of fashion as a communication tactic, you shouldn't feel like you have to be faithful to the entirety of an aesthetic if it doesn't fit your desires. You will find your style.
7. DON'T IMPULSE BUY
As much as the availability of op shops allow more wriggle room to buy more, we must remember that we don't need more things; just the right things. Go to a shopping centre or thrift store, spend hours but you should not feel inclined to buy more things. This links a blog post of mine that discusses the fact that borrowing from others increases your fondness of an outfit and you receive the bonus of being sustainable. Everything in life is borrowed anyways.
8. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT
This one is a bit hard to write because it reminds me of the days where Cher Horowitz takes over my body and i feel like i have nothing to wear. There is no guidebook and with the fact that trends come and go, you'll always find new things to like. DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT use this an excuse to go on a shopping spree. This is not designed to frighten you, but to remind you that everyone maybe isn't in the same boat but the same storm.
9. THERE'S NO END GOAL
Trends change and so do you so there's no rush and you will never turn around and say i have everything i need, especially as the NOW generation; [we] want it all and we want it now.
10. COMMIT!
As the TikTok legend Griffin Maxwell Brooks proclaims, "life is one long cruel piece of performance art.... commit". Forget, "fake it till you make it", if you like something why would you want to fake your confidence in regards to it, that's stupid.
11. IT'S OKAY TO REPEAT OUTFITS
I don't know when it started to be perceived as a negative thing to repeat outfits. If something makes you feel good, WEAR IT. This is something that i'm trying to get past.
12. "MAYBE" PILES DO NOT EXIST
When people want to revamp their wardrobe, nine times out of ten, the wardrobe cleanout comes right away. Although I don't think it's constructive to throw everything out especially in this consumerist state, i also don't condone being a hoarder, especially because what you're interested in changes.
13. THINK BACK TO CHILDHOOD
I think it's because i am not suffocated by the high school system of internalised shame, but now i have more confidence as i become more intune with things i enjoyed when i was younger. Could the recent trend of y2k be another reason? definitely. I have the accessibility to recreate outfits i wore when i was younger and as that fills me with a sense of joy and satisfaction, i'm not going to deprive myself of those feelings.
14. GET READY BEFORE YOU TRY ON OUTFITS
You are less likely to be apprehensive about an outfit if you see EXACTLY how you would style it. I mean EXACTLY; do your hair, put on makeup (if you do) etc.
FOR MORE TIPS CHECK OUT:
I hope you all found this list helpful. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. My loves, I bid you farewell from my wardrobe, now have fun in yours ;) Kisses xx
