I love this dress.

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Marc does not.

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It’s a little strong to say that my husband hates this dress, but I don’t think it’s exceptionally inaccurate.  He says it doesn’t accentuate my positives.  Or something like that.  And I adore him for his honesty, and for appreciating my positives.

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But I still love this dress.

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So, guess what?  I’m going to keep wearing this dress.

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The biggest style mistake I have made throughout the years was trying to dress in a way that made other people happy.  I have always loved clothing and fashion in general, but I can’t tell you how many times I either didn’t wear an outfit or flat out didn’t purchase it because I worried about what others would think.

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Finding your personal style is just that, personal.  And the reason establishing your own style is so important is because it tells the world a little more about who you are.  It also makes you feel your best and most confident in the process.

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So, why would you want to tell the world you are something that you think others like instead of what you like? It took me some time to realize that was a choice.

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Unless you live in a nudist colony or don’t mind getting arrested or ticketed every time you leave the house, we all have to wear clothes.  That’s not just a frivolous or narcissistic novelty.  We need to wear clothes.  So, why not wear the ones we love and that make us feel powerful and confident?

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Not everyone likes my style. Not everyone understands the outfits I put together or why I wear any certain pieces to any certain events. And that’s okay with me.  As long as I feel appropriately dressed and like I am expressing my own style, that’s what matters. 

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I didn’t really begin to own my personal style until I moved to New York nearly nine years ago.  Up until that point I was obsessed with fashion, but only chose items that I hoped would make me blend in.  I didn’t wear heels over 2 inches because I’m so tall. And I erred on the side of conservative, no matter the occasion.

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But in New York City suddenly I was surrounded by all sorts of people.  My personal style became away to stand out in a good way.  I no longer worried about being the tallest in the room (thank you to the many models constantly prowling this city!), and I started to feel more comfortable in my own skin and subsequently my clothes.

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Of course, I still battle confidence issues on a somewhat regular basis.  No matter how strong or enlightened one may be, we are all still human. Confidence is something we are constantly building and cultivating.

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But my style feels undeniably like me.  And if I want to wear a dress that some may think looks like a tent or a bag then, dammit, I’m going to wear that dress.  As long as I love it, the item fits my body, and it makes me feel like me, then I’m all in.

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Because those are the positives I really want to accentuate.

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DRESS Tibi (old) similar here | BAG STAUD | SANDALS Dolce Vita | SUNGLASSES Celine | BRACELETS Monica Vinader & Monica Vinader plus this charm and this charm

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Photos by Marc Fowler

Affiliate links used in this post.

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