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this zt from www.xanga.com by novelle361------
When I was in high school, I remember promising myself that I'd never get out of touch with the latest fashions. I looked at adults with their tapered jeans and thought, "I'll never let that be me."
For the most part, only name-brands would make it into my closet and I strived to be voted "Best Dressed" for my senior class superlatives. Surprisingly, though, I wasn't too upset when my best friend got it.
But now that I'm quickly approaching my 10-year high school reunion, I realize that, at some point, your wardrobe has to grow up, too -- because no one wants to see an 80-year-old in last season's must-have Uggs and flat-brimmed trucker hats.
Sure, that's an extreme example, but even as a senior in college I felt I hadn't updated my wardrobe properly. I looked at what the incoming freshman had on and couldn't find anything similar in my own collection.
It's not that I didn't want to be in the height of fashion, it's just that my priorities changed. I couldn't spend my entire paycheck on clothes because I had bills to contribute to, laundry to pay for and groceries to buy. What little money I had left went to drinks and tips while I was out with friends. Clothes were a rare splurge.
Then I got my first professional job as a reporter at a newspaper and realized I didn't have anything office-appropriate in my closet. I panicked. My one good interview outfit wasn't versatile enough to stealthily wear five different ways in a week and get away with it unnoticed.
Little by little, on my itty-bitty salary, I purchased business attire. Every time I went shopping I looked for nice pants or skirts and button-down shirts. Pretty soon, I didn't have anything fun to wear on weekends. All of my casual clothes were outdated.
I cared, I just couldn't afford to do anything about it.
Eventually, I got a promotion and a raise and was able to buy more. At that point, though, I looked at the popular T-shirts with slogans like "Hottie" written across the chest and tight cotton shorts with "Kiss This" across the rear and sighed. I just couldn't pull that off anymore, nor did I want to.
I think that's when I truly started to develop my own style.
I focused on buying classic pieces that I could wear for years. I updated my look every season with a few accessories and shoes. Pretty soon, I amassed a closet full of casual things I could dress up for work and nice things I could dress down for play.
Every purchase was something I felt represented me, not something I felt I needed to buy to fit in. I still shopped at some of the same stores, I just didn't force myself to latch on to the latest and greatest.
And being an adult in a college town, I still get to look at what the incoming freshman are wearing, but this time, I don't care if my outfits measure up.
As I stocked up on toilet paper and cleaning products in Target recently, I watched as groups of coeds picked up stuff for their dorm rooms and apartments. They dressed up to buy soap and a garbage can, I thought. Then I giggled, knowing that used to be me.
Later, I went to the mall to buy Jerry and my little sister a birthday present. As I stood in line in the food court for a lemonade, a group of college girls walked up to the counter and asked where the Hollister was -- a store, I'll admit, I've never even been in.
While an employee gave them directions, I noticed one girl eyeing me up and down.
I had rolled thick cuffs into my jeans, slipped on navy flip flops and completed the look with a white collared shirt and my chunky turquoise beaded necklace. My hair was pulled back in a loose ponytail.
"Nice outfit," she said, smiled and headed off to Hollister with her friends.
I guess the greatest accessory is being comfortable in your own clothes.
When I was in high school, I remember promising myself that I'd never get out of touch with the latest fashions. I looked at adults with their tapered jeans and thought, "I'll never let that be me."
For the most part, only name-brands would make it into my closet and I strived to be voted "Best Dressed" for my senior class superlatives. Surprisingly, though, I wasn't too upset when my best friend got it.
But now that I'm quickly approaching my 10-year high school reunion, I realize that, at some point, your wardrobe has to grow up, too -- because no one wants to see an 80-year-old in last season's must-have Uggs and flat-brimmed trucker hats.
Sure, that's an extreme example, but even as a senior in college I felt I hadn't updated my wardrobe properly. I looked at what the incoming freshman had on and couldn't find anything similar in my own collection.
It's not that I didn't want to be in the height of fashion, it's just that my priorities changed. I couldn't spend my entire paycheck on clothes because I had bills to contribute to, laundry to pay for and groceries to buy. What little money I had left went to drinks and tips while I was out with friends. Clothes were a rare splurge.
Then I got my first professional job as a reporter at a newspaper and realized I didn't have anything office-appropriate in my closet. I panicked. My one good interview outfit wasn't versatile enough to stealthily wear five different ways in a week and get away with it unnoticed.
Little by little, on my itty-bitty salary, I purchased business attire. Every time I went shopping I looked for nice pants or skirts and button-down shirts. Pretty soon, I didn't have anything fun to wear on weekends. All of my casual clothes were outdated.
I cared, I just couldn't afford to do anything about it.
Eventually, I got a promotion and a raise and was able to buy more. At that point, though, I looked at the popular T-shirts with slogans like "Hottie" written across the chest and tight cotton shorts with "Kiss This" across the rear and sighed. I just couldn't pull that off anymore, nor did I want to.
I think that's when I truly started to develop my own style.
I focused on buying classic pieces that I could wear for years. I updated my look every season with a few accessories and shoes. Pretty soon, I amassed a closet full of casual things I could dress up for work and nice things I could dress down for play.
Every purchase was something I felt represented me, not something I felt I needed to buy to fit in. I still shopped at some of the same stores, I just didn't force myself to latch on to the latest and greatest.
And being an adult in a college town, I still get to look at what the incoming freshman are wearing, but this time, I don't care if my outfits measure up.
As I stocked up on toilet paper and cleaning products in Target recently, I watched as groups of coeds picked up stuff for their dorm rooms and apartments. They dressed up to buy soap and a garbage can, I thought. Then I giggled, knowing that used to be me.
Later, I went to the mall to buy Jerry and my little sister a birthday present. As I stood in line in the food court for a lemonade, a group of college girls walked up to the counter and asked where the Hollister was -- a store, I'll admit, I've never even been in.
While an employee gave them directions, I noticed one girl eyeing me up and down.
I had rolled thick cuffs into my jeans, slipped on navy flip flops and completed the look with a white collared shirt and my chunky turquoise beaded necklace. My hair was pulled back in a loose ponytail.
"Nice outfit," she said, smiled and headed off to Hollister with her friends.
I guess the greatest accessory is being comfortable in your own clothes.
