Certain things in a person’s life are always evolving, growing, and changing, and one of those things is a person’s wardrobe. Fashion and style are incredible journeys that mark personal development and changing taste over a lifetime. While it’s true that most people have a certain style they like, that regardless of the fad or the season, they tend to stick to - it’s a great way to still grow and experience new forms of expression.
Clothing is a powerful way to communicate with the world around you about who you are and it can be an empowering form of self-expression. Whether you look for plus size or petite small, finding clothing that you love is very important. The journey to understanding what you love to wear and what makes you feel great isn’t always linear. Some people spend years doing this, and there can be real obstacles like self-consciousness or overcoming societal peer pressure.
Most people are familiar with the feeling of wanting to impress particular groups that they look up to. This kind of experience is something that many went through in their formative years, and unfortunately, fashion and style can come with baggage (no pun intended) because of it.
However, there is a moment when a person starts to understand how they love their body to be clothed and that starts to become the driving factor in their wardrobe decisions. If you are on that journey of discovering what you love to wear and who you are in your fashion sense - here are some core items that will help you along the way!
First things first, good style does not inherently mean a lack of comfort. Yes, a pair of old, stained sweats with a baggy sweater is a wonderful outfit for a lazy Saturday morning, but it’s not necessarily stylish. That being said, dumpy sweats are by no means the only items in this world that are extremely comfortable. In fact, if clothing doesn't make you feel comfortable in your own skin, relaxed, and confident - then it’s not for you.
So the first thing to do is get rid of any kind of idea that beauty comes with some sort of suffering. Yes, an even gown for the end-of-year gala your favorite non-profit is throwing will have more structure and support and possibly be less comfortable than a tracksuit - but if you feel good in it, then that’s the level of comfort you deserve and should shoot for!
Denim is a great place to start when it comes to building your wardrobe. Why? Well, for one denim will never go out of style, so it’s a safe investment. Secondly, a great pair of denim pants that fit well, look good, and are high quality will last you for years and become like an old friend. It’s actually hard to compare almost any other item of clothing to a faithful, comfortable, great-looking pair of jeans.
On top of all that, denim can be mixed and matched with a variety of different tops, and accessories, and worn in almost any season. So if you are wanting to build a stable, solid wardrobe, make denim one of its foundational pieces.
Finding clothing that you can wear all day is crucial for building out a practical wardrobe you will love. Dresses that can be worn from the time you leave your house to the time you come back home in the evening are going to be supportive, but breathable and cute. This is the kind of thing you could be comfortable wearing to the office, as well as out to dinner after.
This might seem like it shouldn’t be a primary concern, but statement pieces are a huge part of building out your wardrobe. What’s more, statement pieces can be the most ephemeral aspect of your style and change with the times. Certain classic items like wool cardigans or silky kimonos will always be easy to pair with outfits, however, their patterns colors, and vibrancy are all up to you!
This last point is less on a specific item of clothing, although you should have at least two kinds of formal wear (business and formal), athletic, and casual (business and just casual), however in all of that you need to look for support and function. It’s an absolute lie that you can only choose one over the other.
Support is oftentimes associated with comfort and clothing, whether it’s a pantsuit for executive meetings or a black dress for date night, should always feel supported and comfortable. That being said, this should never come at the cost of function. You can look incredible, and feel incredible - any clothing choice that makes you choose one or the other isn’t worth your time or your resources.
