Fashion Notes to my 19 year old Self
March 6th 2009 08:48
Notes to my 19 year old self
It’s so funny when you look back at what you wore when you were younger. Okay maybe funny isn’t the right word. I look back at some of my fashion choices and I’m certainly not laughing.
Of course there are some fashions, like the 80s, that were totally acceptable at the time, but now are just appalling and should never be resurrected. Then there are the fashion choices you had no say in – like the twin set your mum put you in for your first school disco. But then, there are those fashion statements of the past that cause the distress, the ones that only you chose, and that you look back on and cringe. I think about fashion so differently now, as I am sure do many others, and it made me realise that if I could have given my 19 year old self a few pointers from where my views of style sit now, I would have saved myself a lot of heartache, and a lot of mortifying photographs.
Despite many a horrific outfit gracing my limbs and closet during the past, each of which is worthy of a future to past fashion pointer of their own, I have managed to narrow my notes to self down to three main tips. Here they are.
First fashion tip to 19 year old me: Be Confident!
It took me moving cities to realise that I really can pull off hats and that yes, they are actually fashionable. For so long I dressed to fit in with the people I spent my time with instead of wearing what I wanted but was afraid to step out in public in. Go forth and shop and wear confidently 19 year old me!
Second fashion tip to 19 year old me: If you’ve got it, flaunt it.
Not in the prostitutey skirt barely covers your tush kind of way, but in the it’s unlikely your stomach will ever be this flat again, wear the wiggle dress kind of way. Oh the stress about the size of my bum, my thighs, my stomach – and for what? Dressing for your body shape is ageless and I guess more important is part b) of this tip, which is learn to love what you have. If only I’d figured out that my legs are actually pretty decent and it was okay to wear minidresses before I approached the end of my 20s. Now I find myself questioning if I’m dressing too young for my age when I dare to show off legs which I can proudly say ain’t half bad. Oh the drama! I need to refer myself back to tip #1 I think.
Finally, tip number three for 19 year old me. Be your own best fashion friend. That means being honest with yourself about the good and the bad. If deep down you know you have killer pins but you’ve just been scared to show them off, dare to wear the short skirt you haven’t had the courage to pull out of the closet on a big night out. Similarly if deep down you know what you have on could possibly be considered a tad skanky, best fashion friend will politely suggest you wear something else.
Fashion is supposed to be fun, and its also a incredible form of self expression. What a shame 19 year old me was too busy expressing how much I wanted to dress like the norm, but thank god I figured it out before I hit 25 and salvaged my fashion sense for the last half of my 20s. There is much fashion time remaining and I am certainly making the most of it.
It’s so funny when you look back at what you wore when you were younger. Okay maybe funny isn’t the right word. I look back at some of my fashion choices and I’m certainly not laughing.
Of course there are some fashions, like the 80s, that were totally acceptable at the time, but now are just appalling and should never be resurrected. Then there are the fashion choices you had no say in – like the twin set your mum put you in for your first school disco. But then, there are those fashion statements of the past that cause the distress, the ones that only you chose, and that you look back on and cringe. I think about fashion so differently now, as I am sure do many others, and it made me realise that if I could have given my 19 year old self a few pointers from where my views of style sit now, I would have saved myself a lot of heartache, and a lot of mortifying photographs.
Despite many a horrific outfit gracing my limbs and closet during the past, each of which is worthy of a future to past fashion pointer of their own, I have managed to narrow my notes to self down to three main tips. Here they are.
First fashion tip to 19 year old me: Be Confident!
It took me moving cities to realise that I really can pull off hats and that yes, they are actually fashionable. For so long I dressed to fit in with the people I spent my time with instead of wearing what I wanted but was afraid to step out in public in. Go forth and shop and wear confidently 19 year old me!
Second fashion tip to 19 year old me: If you’ve got it, flaunt it.
Not in the prostitutey skirt barely covers your tush kind of way, but in the it’s unlikely your stomach will ever be this flat again, wear the wiggle dress kind of way. Oh the stress about the size of my bum, my thighs, my stomach – and for what? Dressing for your body shape is ageless and I guess more important is part b) of this tip, which is learn to love what you have. If only I’d figured out that my legs are actually pretty decent and it was okay to wear minidresses before I approached the end of my 20s. Now I find myself questioning if I’m dressing too young for my age when I dare to show off legs which I can proudly say ain’t half bad. Oh the drama! I need to refer myself back to tip #1 I think.
Finally, tip number three for 19 year old me. Be your own best fashion friend. That means being honest with yourself about the good and the bad. If deep down you know you have killer pins but you’ve just been scared to show them off, dare to wear the short skirt you haven’t had the courage to pull out of the closet on a big night out. Similarly if deep down you know what you have on could possibly be considered a tad skanky, best fashion friend will politely suggest you wear something else.
Fashion is supposed to be fun, and its also a incredible form of self expression. What a shame 19 year old me was too busy expressing how much I wanted to dress like the norm, but thank god I figured it out before I hit 25 and salvaged my fashion sense for the last half of my 20s. There is much fashion time remaining and I am certainly making the most of it.
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