Choose Your Character
Outfit by Sandy Li
The monotonous day-to-day experience of picking out an outfit allows for the possibility of self-expression through modifications of your character.
Clothes hold power; each entity of clothing draped onto a person's body has properties that allow for manifestations of the person they want to be. When a person curates an outfit, they channel a character or representation of an emotion they are feeling that day.
Through the rising trend cycles on social media, many believe a wardrobe should emulate a singular aesthetic. Although many aesthetics have become popular through social media, such as cottage-core, dark academia, and grunge— many have died out, such as e-girl and e-boys, the art hoe aesthetic, hype beasts, and angel core. Why limit self-expression on account of a trend that will die as quickly as it appeared?
Undoubtedly, clothing is a distinct part of first impressions in our society. It was once claimed that clothing could identify a person's status, livelihood, age, gender identity, and sexuality. However, as the saying goes, "You can't judge a book by its cover."
Although social media is spinning the world into a cycle of trends, many have challenged these popular micro trends. Within this challenge to slow fast fashion and expand their individuality, many have evolved their personal style by taking on many combined aesthetics.
Why should we have to contain ourselves for the sake of being understood? Life is not black and white. One aesthetic can not emulate the complexity of personal style.
Fashionable and stylish are often considered synonyms, but do they contradict each other? Similarly, they are both compliments but exhibit different qualities of fashion. Fashionable is a term deemed as current with the trends, while stylish is timeless because it is unique to the individual.
Fashion subcultures are used to describe the identity of an outfit by comparing it to a similar aesthetic. Instead of constricting to one subculture, personal style should draw inspiration from multiple subcultures to create an irreproducible kind of expression.
The enemy is not the curation of a collection that fits a certain aesthetic and can be paired easily together. It is, however, feeling like an imposter in clothing because of the limitation of an aesthetic that confines a complex individual into a box based on society's expectations, that is damaging.
Clothes are individual entities that are not always meant to be put into a subculture based on how they look at face value. Nowadays, people are learning that clothing is not an identifier but an art form. Each piece of clothing can be used in a multitude of ways to convey different sensations. A singular large scarf can be revolutionized as a skirt or a shirt to create an entirely new manner of dress.
How can clothing be utilized as a form of individualism?
The first step in the direction of individuality is self-reflection. Allow for emotions to surface and proceed through the process of styling. Permit inspiration to come from others, surroundings, or experiences. Consider the aura that comes from each entity of clothing.
And remember, your style is yours and yours alone.
Model: Kenzie M. Peacock
Photographer, Social Media and Public Relations Director: Maddie Paradise
Stylist: Ryan Jacobs
Assistant Stylist: Kaiya Lang
Makeup Artist/Hair Stylist, Managing Editor: Nova Krasner
Nail Artist: Rose Schierlitz
Set Assistant: Nadia Adams
Videographer, Production and Set Director: Luna Abreia
Editor-in-Chief, Creative Director: Pilar Bradley
Photo Director, Creative Director: Kervens Jean
Fashion Director: Monica Robles
Graphic Designer: Lesley Valdovinos
Writer: Madison Collins
Fashion Editor: Audrey Tobin
