I have thought about this at length, I fear.
I want to look and feel at ease in my clothes and I shop for clothing very intentionally. For me the rules of outfits are:
- No single-designer looks
- Steam/press rarely
- No logos (sneakers are the exception)
- Always wear at least 1 garment with visible wear or damage
- Get dressed intentionally every day
- It does not matter how conventionally flattering the look is. I care only about how it makes me feel in my body
- Never clean Ur (my) shoes except to keep leather in condition
I shop almost exclusively second hand and in person—I only buy if I would be heartbroken to come back for a garment to find it had passed me by forever. Most pieces I see are effectively one-offs because I treat them this way.
I am attracted to Japanese workwear silhouettes, modular garments, and drama. “My” colour is the shade precisely between yellow and orange. All my jewelry is gifted. I aim to keep garments until the end of their lives.
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Longer than it probably should be for me to explain this but I love discussing this stuff:
Whether I am thrifting or getting something brand new, it is important to me that the fabric feels good against my skin, that it either fits how I would like or I could do minor adjustments on my own, and I need to like the colours. Whilst I have had a style evolution, its more so in how I express my tastes than the contents of them. I have always liked some variety to the textures of the fabrics that I wear, I love unusual colours and fun prints, and I look for silhouettes that are sharp.
My style is basically eccentric librarian which aligns with both my tastes and my lifestyle so during the day to day I wear a lot of button downs, blazers, and heels, with a lot of the prints being stripes, tartans made out of a lot of wool, corduroy and cotton. When I am more casual there is a lot of jeans, well fitting t-shirts, flowy dresses and minis, this is when I tend to be more playful with silhouette.
I tend to wait for items to go on sale because given my tastes, the clothes that I want tend to be unpopular because people think that they would be difficult to style, or would stick out in their wardrobe. Strategically I also go to the "bargain bin" at thrift markets for the same reason lol. After the sales/bargain I will see if theres anything on my mental list that I want, and I will just try on the things that catch my eye. Then if I want accessories I look at sterling silver pieces and vintage ties and scarves. I get a lot of my shoes from my older sisters' wardrobes (and tbh a lot of other clothes, we are close like that) but if I buy them they tend to be in line with a pair I had and wore until they fell apart. Then when I have my things I try them on one last time, make sure they are within budget and get them.
My rule is no impulse buys. If I want to buy, I save and make a list with the date that I will go get the thing. I mull over it and think about why I want it in my wardrobe and then I get it. Style icons for me are Mary Quant, Myha'la, Cree Summer and Robin Williams. And I'd say the fashion journalists/bloggers/commentators/educators that I keep up with are Derek Guy, Lakyn Carlton and Cora Harrington.
Sep 13, 2024
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When I was a wee twiggy girl approximately aged 16-23 I would just buy whatever I could find at thrift stores that was especially weird or interesting and didn’t have to think about what it looked like because I could just slap things together and look cute and quirky. As I’ve aged I’ve developed a gourmand tendency towards indulgence and, consequently, a figure a little more like Marilyn Monroe (not in the way a lot of women say it—no offense and bless them for living their truth—I’m speaking objectively) so my focus is like purely on finding clothes that fit me structurally that have very particular shapes silhouettes and details. I’m also careful about finding clothes that fit within an autumnal color palette to suit my complexion. I generally won’t buy clothes if they’re not made of natural fibers and if I’m thrift shopping or on poshmark I keep an eye out for pieces from designers I love. I look for things that fit with my well loved staple items and only buy something if I really love it because I don’t like to have a lot of stuff anymore. I love lush textures and fabrics for winter like velvet and fur
Sep 13, 2024
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i’m fat so sadly i’m quite limited because a lot of shops don’t carry anything over XL (they hate me) and thrifting is often tough too. for basics i usually end up going to target or old navy or sometimes tj maxx. thrift stores are slim pickings sometimes but i have better luck with jackets, shoes, and skirts than other items that might not be cut right for my shape.
comfort is paramount cuz when i’m not i get distracted and annoyed and i’m also reminded of my body image issues instead of focusing on the people around me. when shopping, i discard anything that tugs or makes me feel constrained even a little bit cuz i know that will end up hanging in my closet untouched. i have to be able to touch the fabric and i always look for quality materials that feel good and will last.
as for actual style, i love earth tones and jewel tones and colorful, unique patterns. sometimes i dress as a fun aunty, other times i attempt a more casual street style. i love leather accessories, they're classic and last forever. i’ve had great luck thrifting beautiful leather shoes and purses. wearing earthy colors and materials makes me feel calm and elegant and close to nature. i also love a fun statement jacket although it’s rarely cold enough in Austin to wear them for long.
i look forward to having more time and energy (and money) to put towards developing my personal sense of style ✨
Sep 13, 2024
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