Passion for Fashion
A (subtle) breakdown of “style”
What does fashion mean to me?
Fashion to me is the art of creating yourself.
Fashion is about individuality, choice and expression of identity. The best thing about it is your style can change every single day, every hour if you’re up for that much laundry. It’s identity that we don’t have to hang onto, because at the end of the day these clothes are coming off, and we’ll be left to the clean canvas of skin.
Fashion is free, Fashion is subjective. Fashion is timeless. Fashion is innovative. Fashion is unique. Fashion is whatever it is to you. Fashion is art.
Fashion is everything and nothing at the same time.
Fashion is about learning yourself. Finding what makes you feel good within yourself, finding what colors you like and don’t like on your skin, what flatters your favorite features. I think finding one’s style is a never-ending, ever-changing journey. I think it’s learning the ins & outs of your body, your features, your confidence.
Fashion is about exploring oneself. It’s the balance between getting out of your comfort zone, and knowing exactly how to stay in it at the same time.
If I’m being honest, I don’t think I have “a style”. I think I just have style.
My favorite way to dress, that I find suits most of my days, is colorful. I gear more towards fun colorful pants, and bright fun bathing suits. A plethora of colorful and unique thrifted button-downs, and fun (mostly simple) fitted tshirts. My theory is if it matches, great rock on that - if it doesn’t, yes it does. If you show up feeling matched, then fuck it, it matches.
I’m not the biggest accessory person. Once I have a necklace on, it stays there for months. I wear the same 5 rings that I’ve grown an emotional attachment too and own no bracelets. So for me, those rings are my everything. The rings don’t match at all. I have two silver, one gold, one metallic, and one blue, but I think that’s the best representation of how I dress. If I wear all of them everyday, one of them is guaranteed to match my outfit and that’s fine by me.
I don’t own or wear a lot of black. I feel like that color is a black hole in your closet (no pun intended) because once you start buying black clothing, it seems to never stop. The colors you’re wearing psychologically have an affect on your mood, and my guess is black won’t be a good one. I only try to ever wear black if I’m told to, or if I’m planning to have an RBF that day.
When I’m shopping I gear more towards things that I haven’t seen anyone in yet. I try my best to stay true to my own look, even if still moderately basic.
I think my style can definitely be “basic”. It can also be girly when I’m feeling ethereal. Dark and edgy if I’m feeling “cool” and sporty if I’m feeling… well sporty. Truthfully, I am a different avatar everyday just with the same body. The body has the confidence that she can wear any outfit, and that’s really the final touch to every successful outfit.
I find myself feeling afraid to sit here and talk about fashion while adding in any of my own opinions about the industry (or my own personal taste) because who am I to share any insight on a world I’m not entirely accustomed to?
but that’s exactly what I’m not doing.
There is no right or wrong answer. Not everyone is going to love what you’re wearing, but as long as you do, it’ll show.
My favorite fashion quotes that I LIVE by and owe all of my “fashion sense” to are
“It’s not what you’re wearing, but how you’re wearing it”
“Wear the clothes, don’t let them wear you”
“Look good, feel good”
There was a point in time where I became really self-conscious of what I chose to wear. I found myself comparing my style to other peoples styles, and losing my sense of individuality. I found myself trying to stay on trend while spending too much time on the Instagram Explore Page and feeling that I must not have style at all compared to all of these perfect trendy Instagram girls.
I slowly stopped shopping from big brands and shopping malls and found myself in a whole new world of thrift stores and online second-hand shops. The thrift world reignited my passion for fashion, allowing me to really explore my style with different looks and pieces, instead of sticking to the fashion “status-quo” or breaking my bank and participating in fast fashion.
During that time, I noticed such an influx of creative individuals that have chose to express their passion of fashion through creating their own brands. I find it to be the most inspiring thing to see everyone channel their own inner styles while showing up in unique ways. This really helped me embrace my own personal style, and show up completely as I am (or how I’m feeling that day) . Through seeing all of these new (second-hand) clothing brands, I learned style isn’t concrete, and everyones is different. What works for you, may not work for the next, and vice versa.
You’ve got to keep your mind open while exploring the clothing racks.
Some self-made brands that are really shining and are my personals favs that I’ve had the honor of watching them grow from nothing to something include ThriftHaven, HealthyDrugz, Chain of Command, Campus Thrifts and Lost on the Rack (all can be found on Instagram). They each have their own separate unique styles and inspiring passions driving them, yet the community is more together than ever recently in the local Fashion world we have.
Fashion is cool because you don’t need to have the same style as your friends, but you could make new friends based off of shared style too. Fashion is so open, versatile, and inclusive if you allow yourself to feel comfortable in the space like I did. Surround yourself with cool, confident, creative people and you become one.
Brianna from Itsbrisav.com is on the active pursuit of learning about these individuals and the story behind their fashion passion, allowing these brands to get recognized for their versatility and quality. When I first saw Brianna begin her blog and video series “Tales to Threads” via Instagram @itsbrisav I was so excited to see someone finally capturing and highlighting the pure creativity and flames to the fire behind all of these creative individuals. It takes a lot of energy, confidence and motivation to start anything, let alone create and run entire brands. She gets down to the nitty-gritty behind the passion of fashion and how it’s all entirely personal to you and who you choose to show up as. Brianna is an inspiration to me because she is knowledgeable in the fashion industry as she studies to become a fashion journalist, she gives credit where it’s due recognizing other creatives while staying true to herself all while igniting her own passions.
“Tales to Threads” on Instagram really opened my eyes up on how personal style is, and how/where to find that motivation within yourself to show up however you truly want to. Fashion can mean as much or as little as you’d like to choose that day, but the art behind it will still stand.
I think the real question is “What’s the passion behind your fashion?”
So I decided to ask some creatives in my area what fashions means to them:
“The best part of fashion is that it is subjective. If you like it that is all that matters. It is a way to express yourself without having to say any words.” -Will Barlow from ThriftHaven on Depop and Instagram
“Everyone has style and the only way to be comfortable in one’s style is to experiment with different fashion choices. Fashion is a tool, unique to everyone and if that tool is used correctly then it can make life and the human experience much more worth living.” -Bri Sav from Tales to Threads via Instagram and Itsbrisav.com
“Fashion is a barrier you can finally break to either be like everyone else or express who you truly are.” -Britney Alana from ThriftHaven on Depop and Instagram
“To me, fashion means expressing yourself in every way, shape and form. Whether you wear stuff just ‘cause it looks cool or it’s your favorite designers, or you just really love the culture that stands behind the clothes. It’s all about expressing who you are and connecting yourself with who and what you feel closest too.” -Ivan Carrasco from HealthyDrugs.xyz on Instagram
“Fashion to me means showing personality without speaking. Outfits are meant to start conversation. At Lost on the Rack we’re all about personal connection and making every shopping experience memorable.” -Keith Gray from LostontheRack and KarmaSrikesTwice on Instagram
I really think learning your own personal style is a learning curve with yourself. The balance between getting out of your comfort zone, and knowing exactly how to stay in it at the same time.
I believe you can wear a tshirt and jeans, and still make it cute and unique. It’s truly about how you feel in the clothes that’s what is going to be on display.
Fashion isn’t you. Fashion is an extension of oneself. It can come and go, turn on and off. It doesn’t have to be so important, as if what you’re wearing is who you are.
I make every outfit, me. And I’m not sure who “me” even is, but that’s the beauty of it. I have ultimate control on who I show up as today.
Show up confidently in everything you choose to wear, because after all the clothes are coming off tonight and that identity is going with it.
A warm thank you to Brianna for collaborating with me on our writing platforms
A warm thank you to the brands I’ve shouted out (keep doing you!)
And always the warmest thank you if you’ve read this far <333
I love you all forever
Go wear something a little out of your comfort zone this week! It’s fun!
And a friendly reminder to check out Bri at Itsbrisav.com or @itsbrisav on Instagram to watch her latest episodes of “Tales to Threads”
(You can stalk my Insta @amyepanico to judge all of my colorful outfits and different avatars :) )