Bloggers’ Evolving Style
Just like all things in life, style is constantly evolving. We are changing daily as is our sense of fashion. For this week’s FBFF post, three style/fashion bloggers talk about their style evolution through the years. Check it out….
Andrea of the Blonde Bedhead:
From hoodies to over-the-top platform heels to now, my style has really evolved. I wouldn’t even say I had any sort of style until after I graduated college and I was incredibly afraid of expressing myself. I’ve always been more of a wallflower, prefer to blend in, not be seen and not cause any attention or distraction, but I remember in college as I interned at various places, I always wanted to add something to the boring button downs and khaki’s I wore, but I was afraid of being judged or rejected.
Once I started my career, I started taking little chances with my style, dressing the way I always wanted to and taking bigger and bigger risks. At one point, I dumped all my typical dress pants and button downs and went shopping for professional clothing that better fit my personal style. And holy shit, it was refreshing.
This was around the time I started my blog. It’s weird because once I felt like I had reason to wear whatever I want with the excuse “BUT I’M A FASHION BLOGGER” I took huge risks, had a lot more fun with getting dressed and gained more confidence.
There have been times I felt as if I was dressing for my blog, realizing that a certain print or color would pop in photography more, even though I preferred a more muted tone and I’ve learned the hard way by wasting a ton of money and now I ask myself, is this something I truly want? It’s an added bonus if it photographs well, but if not who cares. It’s about documenting my true style and wearing what I want, which is what the whole damn thing is about!
I’ve always loved and will continue to loves leopard print, leather and denim, but the ways I style them and the accessories I choose seem to evolve each year and I love reflecting on the changes. I’ve also learned I don’t have to limit myself to a certain style. Sure, I love to wear ripped jeans and tees, but something about wearing a pretty summer dress makes me feel pretty and feminine.
My blog has served me well over the last four years, documenting my journey, style and otherwise and it’s fun to reflect over the years and see how things have changed and realizing it’s about how your style makes you feel, not how your style makes others feel.
Rachel from Suburban Style:
My style has gone through numerous evolutions throughout the years, but the biggest changes came in my 20’s. When I graduated college, I got a job at a larger company in the suburbs with a very strict business casual dress code. On my meager salary, I learned that cheap, plain office clothes were the way to go. f I could wear it to work, and it fit, I bought it. I rarely spent money on something fun, and my wardrobe mostly consisted of black pants, tan pants, various buttondown shirts, and yawn-worthy solid sweaters. My closet was chock full of bland pieces that I could mix-and-match and re-wear without anyone noticing, and that was my “style” for nearly 2 years.
When I got my second job, I expected the same type of thing, but since it was in the city, and I was in my mid-20’s, I felt obliged to step up my game. As I became more comfortable at the company, and with the more relaxed atmosphere, I shed my boring business casual self and started pushing the envelope a little. By the time I’d been there for six months, my style had totally shifted. My go-to look for work became nicer jeans, heels, a t-shirt of some sort, and a blazer. Sometimes, I throw a scarf on, and maybe I’d wear boots or Chucks, but largely, I still wore the same “uniform” day in and day out.
And one day, I realized that I was becoming Charlie Brown. That is, I had fallen into a style rut, and desperately needed to get out of it.
I managed to dig myself out, but then Pinterest came along, and I started pinning outfits I loved. When I tried to duplicate them, I didn’t feel like me, and I couldn’t figure out why! At some point, I stumbled across a book called “I Have Nothing to Wear!” by Jill Martin and Dana Ravich. I devoured the book and realized I was confused about who I was stylistically. I ended up not defining my style as one outlined in the book, and created my own style profile. Essentially, I said to myself, “if I had to get rid of everything but one outfit, what would that outfit be, and what kind of person would someone think I was when I wore it?”
This realization, and style definition came right as I was entering my 30’s. Sometimes, I wonder why I hadn’t thought to ask myself that question, and really think about the answer, sooner.
Since defining my style, I’ve developed a better understanding for my closet, what’s in it, and what goes into it. I’ve evolved my style into one that I feel truly comfortable in. Rarely do I walk out of the house feeling uncomfortable in what I’m wearing, and that extra boost of confidence has helped me further grow my style and truly own what I wear.
Me:
Whenever I give a fashion presentation, especially to high schoolers, I always give a brief background of my style evolution. I think it can be encouraging for a teenager who is still trying to figure out who they are and the messages they are sending to see that you can develop your own sense of style over the years. When I was in high school I didn’t really have a sense of fashion or an understanding of my body shape. I remember wanting one of those bug poofy princess-style dresses for Senior Prom and my mom refusing, making me instead a more fitted style that certainly ended up being more flattering, even if I didn’t realize it at the time.
In college it was easy to fall into the jeans and sweatshirt mentality. I had a handful of denim and sweatshirts that were pretty much on constant rotation all four years. I did take one big fashion risk in college and chop my curly hair short – which lead to several years of a short curly style that was cute but not necessarily flattering.
My senior year in college I was asked to give a fashion workshop to the high school leadership club I helped out with. After getting over my initial shock of asking the grubby-looking girl to talk about fashion I launched into the presentation and learned a lot in the process. But it wasn’t until I moved to New York City after graduation that I began to realise that this was something I really cared about. I started taking better care of my personal appearance, working out, experimenting with makeup, and branching out in the clothing department.
Two years later I was living in St. Louis, working as a business-focused freelancer and looking for a creative outlet. The blog was born from that – which was the final catalyst to really loving all things style and fashion related. Via the blog, my sense of style has changed over the years. I’m more willing to take risks and also know the kind of things that I love, the looks I enjoy wearing, as well as the things that don’t work on me. I think I’m always going to love high heels, hoop earrings, feminine dresses and animal print. But I’ve learned that I can love things like jumpsuits, which I initially hated, and things with a more rocker chic edge.
Still many days it is a matter of trial and error. The blog has become a forum and a testing ground for some looks – things I wasn’t sure about, or that I liked generally speaking in the moment and then look back via post and realize the overall look could be better, tweaked, changed, arranged differently.
As the consummate shy girl I used to dress in a way that allowed be to escape into clothing – oversized jackets, lots of layers, shape-less sweatshirts, etc… It seemed easier that way. Now, while still shy in a number of situations, my style has taken on a little mind of it’s own. It is a statement maker and doesn’t always let me escape into the shadow – but that’s okay Every day should be a challenge in pushing comfort zones and perfecting oneself.
What about you? How has your style changed and evolved over the years?
Bloggers’ Evolving Style is a post from: ModlyChic
