A Lover of Fashion

As a lover of fashion, I like to sometimes take risks and mix and match pieces that would not normally be matched together. Sometimes I win, sometimes I lose. But is it better to take a chance, and potentially look like a walking fashion experiment, or keep on the safe side of boredom?
I like to look at the workplace as a hub for fashion success and failure stories. I am sure we have all worked for a number of businesses, or have attended uni or other courses, where 'free-dress' is the dress code. And do you find it as interesting as I do to sit back and take in what people have 'thrown on' for the day?

My emotions are always uplifted when I see people that have gone to an effort. Whether is be a splash of colour, a hint of accessory, or a sweep of make up, their ensemble looks polished and they generally as individuals look happy. What throws my fashion radar into a spin however, is when I see the old "black pants, hanging out shirt, runners" look, which occasionally gets sported from some of the older generation ladies, or the "too-tight top, too-tight jeans, flat shoes" look that unfortunately some of the younger generation think is complimentary. When everything is too tight, the person underneath seems like a gargantuan, regardless of whether they are a size 10 or size 18.

So what is it that results in us not caring anymore? Is it laziness, a weird perception one self’s worth? Is it just bad fashion sense (aka Hawaiian shirt, cartoon tie, long socks.. and the list goes on)? Or is it that ongoing problem of just having NO TIME!

For me (and face it, we all fall into this category from time to time), it is generally a time issue. If I haven't thought about what I am going to wear ahead of time, then 6:30am on a Monday morning is not the time to start. So to try and get around this issue, I have two suggestions:

1). Have a number of "fail-safe" outfits - ones you know you rock in, and that are presentable and complete, regardless of the mess you might feel inside. These are the type of outfits you always feel good in.

2). Use shmotter to figure out all your own trendy outfits for the week ahead. This will help you do all the mental math around what shoes to match, what handbag to take, and what 'vibe' you want to create for each day of the week


Through thinking ahead, and knowing your wardrobe, you'll avoid falling into the "OMG, what is she wearing!" category more often than not, and also feel calm and collected in the morning, rather than stressed and frazzled. Plus, you will also avoid the other end of bad fashion, which is no fashion. You will feel so much better for having made some conscientious decisions behind how you present yourself, for a very small amount of effort.

So, is no fashion better than taking a fashion risk? My answer is no every time. Through taking a risk, you are showing you care about yourself. And that is attractive to everyone.