I observe myself but I often don't understand myself. I'm too close to see what's obvious to others. Many of the deepest insights I've learned came from external feedback, such as comments from you.
Perhaps you can help me again. Recently, I find myself drawn to looks that never appealed to me before. I don't know why this is happening. I'm wondering if it means my style is evolving.
When I started dressing up, I slapped together mis-matched items with no judgment. I looked like a clueless tween. I was a fashion-tyro and my lack of experience showed.
A few years of shopping and creating outfits helped. My ensembles improved and made more sense. While not always successful, they escaped the realm of embarrassing. Most outfits look appropriate for a 24-year old who's eager to be stylish with bold colors and prints.
Now, surprisingly, I'm finding myself curious about clothes that never interested me in the past. I'm hungry to try two looks in particular. The first is a crisp white blouse paired with a tight pencil-skirt over a pair of classy black pumps. Think sophisticated secretary; a woman who's 32 years old and cares about polishing her act. The second is a dark skirt-suit with a tailored jacket and satin blouse.
In the past, I found those looks boring. Too mature. But now I want to wear them.
Why? What's changing in me? Am I maturing as a woman, stylistically at least?
Did your taste in clothes evolve over time? Do you know why it happened?
I think such changes are quite natural and we all go through them. We are limited sometimes by what is available to us and influenced by what our peers wear, whether that is to copy or deliberately rebel against, and most of us have some sense of age appropriate dressing. It seems quite logical that you have had to do your style evolution as a female in a sort of condensed space of time. It's also possible that you just want to try something new and different. Many looks which I like don't work for me, whether it's my body type or my personality but it took playing with them to find out. I also did things backwards, which I seem generally prone to doing. When I was young-teens and twenties-the time for experimenting and being a bit funky, I was very conservative and wore the pencil skirt blouse uniform a lot. Now i don't wear it at all. I wish I had been more daring and courageous when I was young and some things I love on younger people now make me feel sad that I would look silly in them, but I have finally settled into my happy place when it comes to my personal style. I think most of us have restrictions of some kind, and although I've shed the restrictions of employment I have to work with the possible restrictions of my age. No to mini skirts and cropped tops. One of my favourite bloggers is in her early twenties and I love her funky style. However my age and body are not remotely like hers. I couldn't pull it off but I wish I could. You haven't had to worry about that, dressing only to please yourself in your private life. Maybe your confidence in your feminine side is leading you to more serious looking female clothes. There is a place for fun but there is a real world to function in too and perhaps it's time to play with just how you might do that.
ReplyDeleteWhat a sage response. Thank you.
DeleteI would love to see you in either of these looks. I think you look amazing in classic ladylike pieces.
ReplyDeleteI really feel for you. I have been able to LIVE through each age and stage of my style, so I've worn and tried many different looks from different decades of my life. You are just now getting to experience it all...so I can see why a fun 24 year old style would appeal to you.
I supposes some people look and dress perfectly 98% of the time...but the majority of us are always living and learning, even in the style department. When we hit a bump in that style road we just keep truckin'. I feel like I'm on the journey with you. :)
You are, Lisa. Thanks for your support and help.
DeleteYour post really resonates with me. When I first started blogging, I looked at style/fashion in a more black-and-white way - I thought certain items/styles were just "not me." Through blogging and reading others' blogs, I've realized how fluid and expressive personal style can be, and things have caught my eye that I wouldn't have looked at twice before! Everything from ear cuffs to tulle skirts now intrigue me, and I am much more willing when shopping to try things on for fun.
ReplyDeleteAs a pencil skirt was my inaugural blog outfit, I'd love to see you style one, as well as rock the skirt suit with satin top. I can imagine that you'd add a playful touch - like a fun piece of jewelry or scarf - that would make the outfit all your own.
I understand what you're describing and appreciate hearing you say it. Thanks.
DeleteI have constantly evolved in style over time and am changing a little bit myself even now. But these styles are perfect for your figure so go for it. It doesn't have to be serious and boring. Wear it in colours or have a brooch to liven it up
ReplyDeleteI'll make them interesting. Thanks for the tips.
DeletePerhaps you've got your fill of dressing your inner tween/teen-ager, and now the young professional in you wants to play. It's good to evolve your personal style- after all you don't just eat the foods or read the books you read in college. You explore, you explore some more and then you move on. I like the idea of you in more adult ensembles- like classic well made pieces. The pencil skirt for example, and a beautiful crisp white shirt. Can't wait to see you discover this newer, more sophisticated self.
ReplyDeleteI am growing up (in a sense). I want to wear "more adult ensembles," as you put it. My inner-girl is maturing. I find that to be unexpected and a little bizarre. I never thought I'd be like an adult woman.
DeleteI think it's good to embrace the evolution of personal style. Let your insides match your outsides.
ReplyDeleteI've always wanted to express my inner-self but have been suppressed for so long I'd lost hope. Now that the gate is open, I'm fearful of walking through it. I have a prisoner's mentality.
DeleteI never like to be caged into one style. I wear so many different looks depending on the day, my mood, the season, the activity, time of the month (lol)... Explore away! BTW, I'm a huge fan of the pencil skirt.
ReplyDeleteMy style has definately changed over time...heck over the course of a few hours and my mood : )
ReplyDeleteJust for the record...pencil skirts and crisp blouses are great on pretty much everyone if you do it right. I think it'd be great on you.
bisous
Suzanne
My personal style has certainly evolved over the years, I think it's also quite normal for it to change in some form. I used to dress very dark as a teenager--more punk styled. But, as I got older I loved more palyful colouring in my clothes. Although, I've always adored lace, so that has not changed! Looking forward to seeing your new style expressions. )
ReplyDeleteI think everyone is constantly going through a style evolution of sorts. You love something for a while but inevitably get bored of it and move on to something new or something that enhances what you currently love but are tired of. It's one of the things that makes clothes both fun and frustrating. ;-) I would love to see you experiment with these styles just as long as you still have fun with it. I hope that made sense. <3
ReplyDeleteHey there!
ReplyDeleteMy style changed over the years even though I pretty much found it around the age of 20. Its changing slightly every season, when new ideas pop up in the stores and on blogs which are of course inspiring me constantly to try out new things (e.g. flower-pants ;)) but I think this is part of the game and I also think it would be boring if we all found our style 100% and then stick to it without ever changing again ;) So just go for new inspirations, styles and ideas!
btw, my stay in the US was awesome and I am back in the bloggerworld now :)
Having read through the comments I have to agree with many of them. I think that we are constantly evolving with our fashion choices. I think the best thing to do is to embrace the change and grow with it! Can't wait to see you in a pencil skirt and white blouse!
ReplyDeletexo
styleontheside.com
I don't know why it happens, but my personal style changes all the time and I try out new outfits constantly. I say go for it, but outfits sound sophisticated, but also can be super sassy!
ReplyDeleteClothes are so much about mood that I'm not surprised you're wanting to try something new. I used to feel like those types of looks were too staid for me as well, but now with the right pieces, I feel like a total badass. The kind of corporate woman who can rule the office. It's just one facet of my personality that gets expressed. I think you're doing the same thing. You're looking at different styles that appeal to some part of your psyche and wanting to see how they feel on.
ReplyDeleteYou hear a lot that people have a singular style or a style for work and a style for play but lots of people (myself included) just wear what they feel like in the moment. I have days where all I want to wear are jeans and a t-shirt with sneakers. Other times, I want to be very girly or edgy or classic. I think that maybe you're not evolving permanently away from that flirty style you like as you're ready to try new things.
You're right, buddy. As much as I like new stuff, I just bought some flirty striped pants to wear. My style is expanding, not changing.
DeleteThis is 100% normal - in fact, I would argue that most people's personal styles continue to evolve throughout their lives. You'll find as time goes on that you're still drawn to many of the styles you've loved from the get go, but that your sartorial repertoire has expanded and developed. You'll fine tune your wardrobe, make garment choices that work better together, (further) realize and embrace those items that suit your body and tastes best, and never stop growing and changing when it comes to what you wear. It's part of the awesomeness that is loving and embracing fashion!
ReplyDelete♥ Jessica
Yes, your style is evolving! This happens to every woman. Sometimes this new phase stays, sometimes it doesn't. I guess it's kind of like a phase or a new chapter in a book. You try out something new and you may or may not decide to stick with it.
ReplyDeleteThat skirt in the picture is super cute! I have a leather high waisted pencil skirt similar to that.
xo Azu
This happens to a lot of people. I personally think that sometimes these things that seem "boring" become interesting, because they seem so not-you. You just described WHO you would picture wearing those ensembles, but they are not you. Because you are you! What happens is, you get to mix the idea of who you would picture wearing these outfits, with your own personal style, and something new and different emerges. :D
ReplyDeleteBrilliant point, Sara. I hadn't realized that. Thanks.
DeleteAbsolutely your style evolves! And hell, you're rediscovering a whole lifetime experiences that are now open to you! Who says one day you can't be that tween and the next the 32 year old secretary! Just because you dress up as one doesn't mean tomorrow (or in two seconds) you can't change your clothes, your hair, your make up and be someone, something new.
ReplyDeleteThat's the beauty of clothing. It's only as restrictive as you let your mind be.
You're right about my life, Megan. Now, I'm using clothes to sample periods of what normal women go through. It's fun.
DeleteI think its part of the process and also exploration. I love the sexy Secretary look and it had its own attraction. Enjoy ... There's lots of fun to be had with this look
ReplyDeleteIt's just a natural evolution, part of your wanting to explore all aspects of being female that you can, especially as you get more confident in trying new things. Trying what you like and trying what you didn't think you'd ever gravitate toward are all part of the fun. Years ago, I got rid of a bunch of my old 90s clothes that I NEVER thought I'd want to wear again, and what I wouldn't give to at least try them on now and just see. And I love jellies again now just as much as I did as a kid. Style changes one way and then can even change back over time. Keeps us from getting bored. :) And lets us dress according to our stage in life or even just our mood from one day to the next. Can't wait to see you try out the looks! I have no doubt you'll make them look anything but boring.
ReplyDeleteAny good fashionsitas style is always evolving.
ReplyDeleteThe beauty of fashion these days is that there are no rules (go check out any street style blog from europe or even NY for proof!). Follow those impulses and try new looks. Don't feel hemmed in by labels, just have fun and trust that you have great style - because you do!
Lisa.