I got to thinking about this topic recently while browsing through some of my fave design blogs. I noticed that many of them refer to ‘this designer’ or ‘that trend’ or ‘this is hot right now’… and I started thinking – hey, maybe I should be doing this too?
It was a fleeting thought, however. I am not, nor have I ever been, a ‘fashionista’ – I was brought up wearing hand-me-downs, and to actually disdain the desire people seemed to have to buy something because of the name printed on it or it’s label.
I guess I was brought up, to some extent, to be an ‘anti-fashionista’.
Don’t get me wrong, I obviously care about what I wear, and what I buy to adorn me and my surroundings. I care about beauty, and style, and comfort. I care about where that accessory or item of clothing comes from, and what it’s made from. Now that I’ve discovered the handmade world, I feel as though I’ve finally found a home – a community of people who care about these very same things – rather than just what is ‘fashionable’.
So, I hope that you’ll never catch me wowing about ‘the latest trends’ – because that’s not what this blog – or what I – am about. I want to buy and share quality, classy, quirky, unique, beautiful, genuine, interesting goods – preferably handcrafted or vintage, of course!
I think real style is eternal, and more than that, your own style should reflect who you are – what you value and what you think is awesome. I think perhaps that is why teenagers are often the biggest fashion-tragics – they’re still trying to find out who they are, to find their own unique style – and they often go through the stage of just doing what their friends think is cool. I, on the other hand, was a complete style numpty as a teenager – it took me until my 20s to even care what I looked like!
I also believe that having our own style is freedom – the freedom to wear what makes us happy, to create a style around our personality. This year, as I’m approaching 30 and taking a new path in life, I’ve experimented with my style – gone from a long-haired pretty-dress-wearing woman to a bright red, short-haired (with an extra ear piercing) slightly more funky style… just because I can, and because it’s fun to play with my appearance!
I just love coming across blogs like Super Kwaii Mama, where a real, genuine person is showing and loving their own style. It gives me hope in this age of mass-production and conformity… hope that a larger portion of the western world are moving towards their own style – back to valuing unique clothes and handmade garments.
So, this is not a fashion blog. It’s about style, baby – and the substance behind it.
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And this, my friend, is why I love everything you do. Authenticity. Credibility. Conscience.
What a wonderful post!! There is nothing better in just being yourself!!! And you are so right about the freedom this gives you—the freedom to just be ‘who you are’!
Right on! I found myself reading the New York Times Fashion section last night and had a really similar thought…I love seeing what designers are doing, but, like you, I care about style and substance, about individuality and inspiration, not trends or labels or price tags.
Agree totally. I was brought up 100% op-shop clothed and hated it at the time but I SO appreciate it now. Fashion comes and goes, but true style lasts forever. I’m sure someone important said that.
And that photo: I would kill for that hat, and are those real tatts?
Thank you Cate, Lianne, Jess. Sharon – I don’t know, but the pic just grabbed me as being so gorgeous!!
Yo Sharon: “Fashions fade; style is eternal.” – Yves St Laurent.
It’s cool to know that I’m not the only one who thought of that quote when I read Jessica’s post.
And it’s great to hear from people who think the same way I do about fashion! Why be fashionably true to someone else’s aesthetic when you can be fabulously true to your own? Great post, Jessica – thank you!
You’ve summed up how I feel about “fashion” exactly.
I was raised in hand me downs and clothes made by my Mum and fashion mostly passed me by. The clothes we make & sell in our little store are for similarly minded people too & I love that, because it means I get to meet a huge range of interesting people who don’t wear what the Mags & TV tell them they should.Thanks for expressing it so perfectly Jess!
Great post Jess. Always enjoy reading your blog – obviously, a blog is good for marketing, but so many people seem to have it for just that reason only. Your blog stands out from these as your posts are always interesting, thought out, and passionate – even when just pictures of pretty things you like : ) Keep the the ace work lady.
I’m pre-afternoon tea.. that is keep UP the ace work 🙂
Silverlight, Nici – thank you! Part of me was a tiny bit hesitant to post this essay, but then I read comments like yours and I realise I’m not alone in my feelings towards this issue, which really heartens me!
Hehe Amelia.. I knew what you meant, and thanks!
Tried before to say that I loved your post and totally agree with you
Great post! And such an inspiration to us all to find our own style ‘within’. Sometimes it’s a process that can take a while to discover … sounds like you’re already well on that journey! 🙂
Yep I agree! Very liberating not to be worrying too much about trends. Having said that, its fun to embrace a trend if you love it!
Julie – totally agree. If something comes into ‘fashion’ and it’s something you love, no reason not to dive in! I remember a few years ago the pretty hippy stuff was in fashion, and I bought up, because it was my style 🙂 Since then, not so much 😀 Now I’m really after investing in some good handmade clothes when I can afford to buy some more!