Fashion as a Coming-of-Age Story

The first time I used my experience in fashion to influence others was when I took my friends to a thrift store for the first time. I felt excited to help them find their own style so they could communicate who they are to the world. When we walked into the thrift shop, the air smelled like laundry detergent, old clothes, mothballs, and perfume. I saw people looking at all kinds of clothing from full, unorganized racks. Accessories and shoes of all sizes were thrown into clothing bins. I heard the sounds of clothing hangers being moved and people talking. I could see my friends, who had never been thrifting, were overwhelmed and didn't know where to start, so I guided them to the jeans first. I felt the coarse textures of denim while holding up different pairs to show them. They all talked about wanting to try new styles, but they were nervous about what people would think. I told them, "If it's going to make you happy, it doesn't matter what other people think". So I helped each of them find some pieces. As I watched them smile and grab more items, I felt joy knowing how confident the use of fashion would make them. There was so much more to this experience than just "shopping". It was a moment in time of self-discovery for them, showing that fashion is not just simply the clothing we wear, but rather a form of expressing who we are as individuals.

I used fashion as a way to advocate for my friends, helping them to express who they are to the world. I wanted them to feel the same way I felt when I started to discover my style and the confidence it has brought me. While my friends once saw the thrift store as a place with old, used clothes that had no worth. I showed them that, instead, it's a place filled with so many creative ideas where people can find ways to express themselves. Now, these girls all thrift regularly and dress in ways that express themselves, which makes them confident. Not only have I physically seen a change in them through their outfits, but also in their personalities, which have become stronger and filled with joy as their confidence has grown. I created Styling Self-Expression to help even more people find themselves through fashion, because it has always been a part of every individual's identity and evolves with them as they grow.