YOUR STYLE SUCKS - This Is Why.
Ok, maybe your style doesn't entirely suck, but you might be a victim of the 3 traps that keep you stuck in the same dull uniform you've been wearing since Sixth Form.
1 - Imprisoned By ‘Flattering’
If there’s nothing wrong with your style per se, but you can’t seem to make anything look fashion forward, it’s worth thinking about what exactly you’re dressing for.
There’s nothing wrong with wearing outfits that make you feel confident in your body, and highlighting certain parts whilst concealing others is the oldest style trick in the book. However, whilst this might shave 3 lbs off you in a certain light, it’s worth thinking about the payoff in terms of the sort of looks you’re limited to.
Take a look at the images of Iris Apfel below - there’s no denying she’s embodying style and maximalist glamour.
What she’s pointedly not doing is nipping in her waist, shying away from oversized items, or worrying about adding ‘bulk’ through layering.
The recent Di Petsa shows are a great example of style choices that aren’t deliberately flying in the face of ‘flattering’ to the detriment of the overall look, but that flout the conventions of high waisted, cinched in everything for those that aren’t a size 0. Notice the drop waist in Look 19, and how the rippled fabric flatters the model’s curves without aiming to disguise them.
2 - Afraid Of Looking ‘Weird’
Whilst high fashion can be a victim of ‘weird for the sake of it’ outfits, the fact remains that having unique style can naturally result in drawing more attention to yourself.
I understand being uncomfortable with this - there’s nothing worse than feeling like everyone in a room is looking at you when you walk in - but this is often just a sign that your outfit is outside of the norm, which is a neutral fact. Once you get ok with looking ‘weird’, the world of colour combinations, layering, and fun accessories becomes open to you. Also, anyone who’s going to say you look weird for having fun with fashion will probably be confined to basic Zara poly-blend neutrals forever, which is enough of a punishment.
Iconic outfits are rarely safe ones, and ‘quiet luxury’ has really done a number on our ability to just enjoy fashion for the exploration of creativity that it’s supposed to be.
3 - Style Echo Chamber
If you have no style inspiration outside of the internet, you’re headed for trouble in the form of the style equivalent of ‘iPhone face’.
“But I use lots of different sources like Pinterest, TikTok, Instagram, Tumblr, and Youtube!” I hear you cry. Since social media is designed to amplify content that gets lots of engagement, you see lots of style inspiration that has mass appeal. Generally if everyone likes something, that means it’s fine. Nothing daring, nothing exciting, and nothing that marks out your style from other people’s. The first step of having good style is everyone thinking you got dressed in the dark, and directly copying influencer outfits from Pinterest and TikTok is only going to make you look boring.
That’s not to say style influencers aren’t a valid source of inspiration - they absolutely are. However, they shouldn’t be your only source of inspiration, and neither should the fashion world in general.
Experiences like going to art galleries, museums, sites of natural beauty, seeing shows in the theatre or musicians in concert, looking at cool buildings and flicking through magazines and books are where your organic ideas are going to come from, and will show you how to build a look that no one else has.
My style inspo this week? The below set of completely baffling images that make very little sense, but capture the essence I want to embody in my dressing at the moment.
Once you’re past the first hurdle of accepting inspiration from non-internet sources, it becomes easy to interpret. Looking at the above, there’s a distinct early 2000s bent, coupled with the motorcycle jacket and skinny jeans look of around 2014-16 off duty models. Childish, coquettish playfulness is embodied in the doll’s house, the playing cards of the Dior print, the youthful face of Billie Piper (+ the immediate Dr Who association) , and the deep, vibrant colours of the vegetables which would only be interesting to someone not yet jaded.
Create your own baffling moodboard without worrying about the aesthetic, and use the essences to look at your wardrobe with new eyes.
It’s paradoxical - you have to let go of looking ‘stylish’ for a while to truly ever end up there. Also, everyone’s making it up. There’s no reason that influencer looks better than you in a ridiculous outfit (ok, ignoring genetics, makeup, plastic surgery, steamers, fashion tape, clothes pegs, tailoring, lighting, and photography), other than their confidence to wear something they haven’t yet seen on anybody else.