In a world full of followers, be the game changer!
There are many who make the mistake of following things for all the wrong reasons, especially when it comes to style and fashion. Many of us follow “trending fashion” but we also neglect to understand that style and fashion are two different things. Although they tie in with one another but they have their own separate purpose. I don’t blame those who have crossed that path of thinking they are the same thing because once upon a time I did exactly that. As time has progressed I’ve learnt to identify the differences but also incorporate them into my personal presentation.
Let’s get down to some explaining, Fashion is what you see when you walk through the mall and stores have clothing racks full of garments for you to purchase. You can buy fashion, but you can’t buy style ( or at least I hope you don’t). Style is shown on the display unit of the retail store where the mannequin is wearing an example of how you can wear that retailer’s product, it’s the outfit you create when you assemble the clothing you have bought.
Why is having style important?
I personally think style is important because it’s about personal presentation, it’s about point of difference but essentially, it’s a form of expressing yourself.
Dare I say it but we judge people on a day to day basis on what they look like, some of us more than others. When a peer walks into uni looking like they woke up and turned up to class in their PJ’s or a work colleague decided that wrinkled pieces of clothing, untidy grooming and the lack of personal presentation is how they are going to look today, we will have an opinion. Some of us may not say anything, hell most of us would probably not say anything but it doesn’t mean you don’t have an opinion towards personal presentation.
I for one think it’s important to have a style of your own as it is a representation of yourself, your personal outer and your personality.
For me personal style has helped me in many ways, whether it be opening doors for potential employers or giving me that slight lead for my future endeavors, it’s created a visual image of me that is seen by other individuals on a day to day basis or even strangers for that matter. Most of us are aware of how important first impressions can be but also how nerve racking it is to sit in front of someone , open your mouth and sell yourself. With personal presentation ticked you can break the ice before even opening your mouth. Employers can appreciate a well groomed individual, even if they don’t say it aloud…. It’s definitely something we keep an eye out for.
Am I to self-obsess if I care about how I look?
To be honest, this is the type of topic that could go back and forth and around in circles. We all have different opinions and we all see subjects differently. I’ve heard and seen the whole” If you’ve got confidence and a good personality then you don’t have to dress well” conversation happen right in front of me but I just want to say that some of the worlds most idealised people regardless of sector, are very well dressed. Now whether they dress themselves, have a stylist, only cared when they became successful etc, they still are well groomed people to date. This doesn’t take away from their confidence, personality or even their career but it does add another point on the scoreboard of making them an idol.
All I’m saying is take some pride in your personal presentation and do it for you not anyone else. When you present the best form of yourself, others will absorb only that.
“I feel confident and in my best form when I’m dressed well, there’s a “butterflies in my tummy” kind of feeling when someone compliments my outfit. Although the compliment is for the outfit, I understand it as a compliment about myself, about my presentation, about my choices, about me as an individual. It gives me that push to keep doing it and build that name, that identity, that personal presentation standard. I do it for me, not for approval and not for anyone else”.
