This is a post I've been meaning to write for a while now, but finally got the chance to sit down and hammer it out. Read on for my personal style philosophy.
I always get complimented on my outfits, my style, and fashion sense. Heck, my class even voted me best-dressed recently! *see below for photo* I'm not sharing this to be egregious, but rather, because I believe that the way I view fashion is applicable, and should be, embraced by all.
You are a walking billboard for yourself- professionally, personally, any which way, wherever you are. Despite the fact that we'd all love to believe that appearances don't matter, they DO. Even if you're just visiting the supermarket, I believe that you should look put together. Now, I'm not saying you should be wearing a 3-piece suit, a ballgown, or anything outrageous, but a pair of dark rinsed denim jeans with a cardigan, ballet flats, and simple accessories really look pulled together. To me, throwing this outfit on is just as easy as putting on pajama bottoms, Ugg boots and an oversized sweater (Yuck!). You never know who you'll meet, and I believe that clothing allows you to look professional, polished and with it, without you having to say anything. Talk about sending power vibes to those around you! Personally, I would think that a person who is dressed carelessly and doesn't take the time to put themselves together would be less likely to spend quality time and care with other aspects of their life.
Dressing for the job you want is how you should always present yourself. If you look like you should be in charge, people will be more likely to put you in charge! I can't count the number of times I've been approached by people asking "Do you work here?" or "Are you the person in charge?" simply because I look like I should be in charge! This is simple to do, really. You just need to stock your closet with some essentials. My essentials are: black trousers, gray trousers, a tweed skirt, pencil skirt, cardigans and sweaters in a rainbow of colours, tank tops, a black dress, trench coat, a pair of pumps, flats, and heeled boots.
I live by three quotes that summarize my personal style philosophy:
"You can have anything you want in life if you dress for it." - Edith Head
" Dress poorly, and people will notice your clothes; dress well and people will notice you" - Coco Chanel
"You can never be overdressed or overeducated." Oscar Wilde
I'll leave this post with the timeless words from those greats, but I can't stress enough how easy and important looking put together is. When you have the basics, it's a grab-and-throw-on situation, and you're bound to look good and be taken seriously.
