‘Risk’ is relative, and you might laugh at what I call a fashion risk. However, if your tolerance to change is low, little things can mean a lot.
Within a year of joining YLF 6+ years ago, I took 3 different fashion ‘risks’ that have been catalysts for my style evolution. They seemed dangerous to me back then, but in retrospect they have been key to the development of my personal style.
#1 at 54 yo I bought my first LEATHER jacket. It was probably the most expensive single garment I had ever bought for myself - but it was one of the first times that I talked myself into feeling worthy of the splurge. It was a Right of Passage and there is much positive emotion around this one garment. It also just happens to be the perfect thing to wear when travelling during shoulder seasons, and has been in many travel capsules. It is showing some wear, and probably not the kind of jacket that gets better with the patina of age, however we are not yet ready to part ways.
#2 again, at 54, I bought my first JEAN jacket. OMG! I felt like such a rebel! This was my first experiment with ‘juxtaposition’ - and I grew to love it! I would volunteer that juxtaposition (sneakers with a dress, t-shirt with a suit, jean jacket with a pleated skirt) has become my favourite fashion conceit.
#3 introducing white into my wardrobe. Looking at old posts, my fist attempts weren’t so fab (Reiker shoes, I’m looking at you) and I had trouble finding white jeans in those early years. However success with a white jean jacket and white shorts was the gateway, and later I found white jeans and even a white jean skirt. Then, 3 years ago I threw caution to the wind and started wearing white year ‘round, including during our messy Canadian winters! How liberating!
All of these things felt like ‘risks’ to me at the time - but they led to the evolution of my style, and even some personal growth - specifically that I am worthy of the time, effort, and resources ($) it takes to maintain my personal style, rules are meant to be broken, and, that I deserve to be ‘visible’.
Changing up hair (cut, colour), committing to a new silhouette, an expensive purchase/splurge - have YOU taken a fashion risk that has resulted in a change to your personal sense of style, and/or resulted in personal growth? Please share your experience.
