The Word Style

I was on my way to my dorm’s formal dressed in a black floral button down shirt and black jeans. We were parading down to Catalyst Ranch in two yellow school buses, both packed with people. I was lucky enough to wind up on a bus with all of my friends, and the conversation shifted from the Grammys to Beyonce to STITCH. I was talking about how earlier in the day the former Editor-in-Chief, Sarah Spellings, asked me to describe my personal style.

When she asked this question, I went through a fashion identity crisis.

I didn’t know how to describe my style truthfully and honestly. One day, you’ll find me in a cozy oversized sweater and the next day I’ll be dressed in all black with a pop of color. My style changes on the daily. Then, I began thinking about what my style really is. I thought about what I wanted to wear and came up with an answer (I will be leaving you all in suspense...you can go find my answer in our latest print issue, the Identity Issue).

What I realized was that I don’t define my style by my everyday wear. Maybe one day I don’t want to put in effort and I’ll throw on a flannel with blue jeans. Maybe one day I do want to try and I’ll honestly wear something that I would consider ‘my style.’ There’s a difference between what I wear sometimes and what I want to wear.

That’s when I realized that the words ‘personal style’ don’t necessarily articulate an individual's everyday looks. Style is based upon what the person wants to wear, what they have in their shopping cart on Burberry.com, and what they have pinned to their Pinterest. A lot of times, I frankly cannot afford what I want to wear, so I settle for a flannel. That doesn’t mean my personal style is funky, I just don’t have the funds for a Burberry top yet.

Each person has their own style identity. They have the clothes they identify with and the clothes they want to wear. A person’s style is not defined by their sweatpant lazy look or an Old Navy coat. Someone’s style is defined by what they want to wear, and it’s defined by what they feel confident in. It’s what we wear when we are seeing the boy we like or when we are going to an important interview.

It’s not about the day to day looks. It’s about the monumental, trying looks.