I do not often take time to analyze the way that I dress and represent myself. I love this topic of discussion and how it has made me reflect on how we perceive others and also how we perceive ourselves. I know that (even when I do not realize it) I am always expressing myself and my values through what I do and what I wear. For example, I enjoy trends and styles as well as unique design and expression. I am not the type of person who likes to dress in a “plain” way. Although I enjoy my comfort, I enjoy the artistic type of expression we are able to make through our clothing and adornment. I also pay attention to detail. I like things to match and I enjoy accessorizing with my outfits.

I think my choices come from the friends I have surrounded myself with, and also the lifestyle I have grown up in. I have been raised in a somewhat conservative Christian family, so a lot of my outfit choices are based off of what my parents and grandparents would see as appropriate. As fashion has changed, I am sure there are things that they do not understand (in terms of style). While this may be true, I know that a lot of my style choices reflect how others would think of and view me. Maybe I care a little too much what others think of me, but at this point in my life, I like to be seen as a mature adult. I know that in order for me to set a respectable image for myself, I have to think about what I wear and the way I represent myself. There are many choices I have made throughout my life that show this standard I have set for myself, not only through my outfits, but also through my adornment. Someone who has always encouraged me to “think before I act” is my mom. The day I turned 18, I immediately wanted a tattoo. For my mom it did not make sense because tattoos were not as popular as they are now. While she kept an open mind, she reminded me that that was something permanent I would have all my life. She also explained how the placement and the tattoo itself should be very important in my decision-making. As a spontaneous and impulsive teenager, I was upset she was not automatically onboard. Now, looking back I appreciate her advice and her input.

There are definitely some things that I wore in high school and middle school that I would no longer wear now. In the same respect, I know that there will be things that I will no longer wear in my future that I enjoy wearing now. As we age we have to consider that society is changing as well. What was respectable in the past may not hold the same weight that it does today. One way I can illustrate this is through the trends I see on campus. Being on not only a college campus, but also a liberal arts campus, I see a variety of ways that individuals customize themselves. An example of this is when I go to the gym. There are circumstances when I feel like an outfit can simply express your age and your way of life. I see many outfits from tiny spandex to sweats. Judgments may be made, but I know that when I go to the gym, the way that I look is of no concern to me. I choose not to overexpose my body because the gym is a place where I go to stay in shape and remain healthy. In society, exposure of your body is of more acceptance than it may have been in the past. While this is true, I see that with age I find myself moving away from that style and form of expression. In a similar sense, I have found myself walking into a favorite store of mine in the past and finding nothing appealing to me. The types of clothing that may have interested me in the past, I am no longer drawn to. New trends will always be introduced and societies views will always evolve. That is one of the amazing things I find about fashion is that it is always changing and new styles and looks are admired. It is hard to say what will or won’t be in style, as I get older, but I think the most influential factor I have in my life is the people I surround myself with.