Every so often I look through my old Facebook photos. Or an old memory will be at the top of my dashboard asking me to repost it. At which point, for some memories, I’m thinking…”umm no, I don’t want to re-share that and I’d appreciate it if you didn’t show me that again.”
Yet that embarrassing moment, that look, was me in my truth at that time. Most likely at that time I was very proud of it. Not so much now, because I’ve gotten better. All of that made me think about how developing personal style is very much like proof reading and writing at the same time.
Ask any style professional about how they got their style and you may hear a list of stories about embarrassing looks and ideas they would not repeat. However, it is throught those experiences, that helped them fine-tune their current style.
That’s where the proof reading part comes in. It’s looking back, mastering what works and changing the not so good things about the style choices made. The writing part is in experiencing new styles, finding what looks and styles represent you at your current point in life.
Remember NO ONE EVER just threw something on. Everyone makes a choice about what they will wear. “Choosing what to wear, even shopping for clothes is choosing how to tell your story based on how your story has developed so far.” Your personal style will come through in every situation no matter what your job or role in life.
Please be encouraged to continue to master the favorite things and try new things. Try new styles, new cuts, new colors (in my MC Debra voice LOL.)
The wisdom that comes with experiencing different looks is recognizing that every look is like a weapon to use or a card to play. The experience with those looks teaches you when to use those looks based on the perceptions yielded by those looks. Don’t shy away from the uncomfortable rather let your mindset be of learning how to manipulate perceptions based on understanding the beauty of a new look.
I encourage you to live a healthy dynamic life. Tell your story intentionally every day by making style choices that tells the story you want people to read. Remember you are going to get read everyday.