Are you what you (were) wear?
I was that little girl with a closet full of clothes, yet, come time for a special occasion, I would open my closet doors and stare, before concluding...
I have nothing to wear.
Fashion was in my blood, because my maternal grandmother and aunts were fashion designers, and my mum, a teacher, did dressmaking on the side. I would browse stylebooks and label my wishlist of outfits.
I also enjoyed designing and sewing my clothes from whatever fabric scraps I found, and I'd sometimes save my pocket money to buy fabric from the cloth store.
If I wasn't making clothes for myself, you could find me drawing patterns and sewing clothes for dolls. Those hobbies convinced my mum that I would pursue a career in the fashion industry, however, my interests were ever-changing, and of course, I never did.
I was required to wear a school uniform, which was a blessing and a distraction from my fascination with clothes. However, there were school parties and theme days.
In my fourth year of high school, there was a jeans day, and my mum refused to grant me a new pair of jeans, telling me I should wear one from my closet.👀
I reviewed all my jeans and decided that I didn't want to wear any of them because they were "stale".
So I had to find a solution by being creative.
From the lot, I picked a yellow pair of jeans, a pack of black clothes dye, and some strings, and I tie-dyed my yellow jeans.
The result was a beautiful grungy rustic colour with varying shades of brown, which I paired with an orange top. The unique look was a hit, and everyone enquired where I had purchased what they referred to as my gorgeous "rock star" jeans. I felt pleased, knowing that my jeans were one-of-a-kind and hard to replicate.
That creative display turned out to be a double-edged sword, and that was the last time my mum gave in, to making me a new outfit for a school event.
"See, you don't always need to have something new. Look how special your jeans came out and how creative you can be." Mum said.
I adored that pair of jeans, and a few years later, I cut them and wore them as short.
I loved to mix and match my outfits, and I liked how khaki tank tops looked with that rustic brown multi-coloured shorts. Not everyone agreed though.
My clothes were camouflaged on my body.
I continued to wear my favourite outfit to Saturday classes until one day a guy came laughing and explained that he had to do a doubletake to confirm that I wasn't naked. The fellow got something off his chest and said that "you're a free spirit, and I know that you would do it if you felt so."
Gosh! What a reputation, heh?
I have put thoughts into perspective.😅
Clothes for me are a reflection of your personality and I love individual clothing. My goal of having a minimalist stylish wardrobe is ongoing, I have improved drastically over the last two years, and I no longer feel an attachment to clothes. I'm now at a stage where I have simple pieces and colour-theme, so I can coordinate and mix-match everything in my wardrobe. I seek comfortable, easy-to-care fabrics, earth tones are still some of my favourites, and I nose around thrift shops for great finds.
Recently though, with upheaval and some travel, I am leaning towards some drastic downsizing, as keeping up with the changes of season, (weather-wise) is now my priority, and I'm forever thankful to my mum for her encouragement to play with fashion.
Of course, all these images are mine. I took them.
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This explains a lot. No wonder you always look like you stepped off the page of some fashion magazine...but effortlessly of course:)
Thanks 😊
It can be embarrassing sometimes though because I'm a proper low-maintenance woman.
I see the expense and tremendous effort some women make, and I hate to be perceived that way:)
Wish I could see a picture of the rockstar jeans😄
Yeah, I'm so sorry I didn't keep it... or I forgot to look for it. I still have items at home in Jamaica that represent great lessons that I learned by chance, and those jeans was one of them 😍
It's awesome that you used to make your own clothes. I feel like that is a dying skill for people. Not many people do anymore. The tie dye jeans sound cool
Yeah, I never thought I would live a day and not sew something. People don't even mend little rips anymore. A tiny hole and that's the end.
The tie dye result was a marvel 😊
Yeah it's true mostly. I have a pair of jeans that I've had for about 11-12 years that have holes forming in multiple places and I just wear them as casual jeans lol. The holes look intentional haha
Good on ya! On the other hand, does that indicate that you live a fairly healthy lifestyle, and have not expanded horizontally?
I bet! Have you seen the latest trend?
There was a time when only the mentally unfit that would walk the streets like this. Now, people have no qualms pushing pins on debit, and even worst credit cards to acquire such...
Haha mine aren't even close to that bad. I'd just toss them away at that point. I'm talking about maybe two holes that I could fit one finger through lol
No, I don't see you as someone who would go that extreme. Neither would I.
Seeing ladies wear stuff like that just because it's "in fashion" screams insecurity, and a need to fit in with me.
I like people to wear what they please, as long as they are happy, but I hate to see the amount of money people toss, carefreely to achieve those silly looks.😏
No way mi negra, ja ja we are what we think, what we say and what we eat, simple
I hope expressing your views gave you some self-fulfilment
I can honestly “see” you as a teenager staring at your overflowing closet and thinking :
I can also “see” you doing something as creative as tie dying, and doing it so successfully that everyone wanted a pair of your “rock star” jeans.
I think that it’s sad that when we grow older we lose that sparkle of excitement that comes with choosing an outfit (usually, in front of a mirror. Hehe)
You are certainly not what you wear, but what the heck everyone should have a chance to just have some ## FUN 🥰
Unfortunately, I remained that way all my life until I knew that I was moving to live on a small boat.
You could not imagine the nightmare my life was with a wardrobe that looked like a fully stocked warehouse.
Parting with the majority of my clothes was the best thing for my well-being.
I thought I had a disease, and I searched to find if there was a diagnosed term for frequently "forgetting that I had a full closet and accumulating more."
💯%
Hehehehe I think I am still in that phase🙈🙈
That's a phase that lingers and might eventually torment you... Still, it took me several decades before it got to that ... So maybe a few more years and you might change? 😆
Hehehehe fingers crossed, the future is unpredictable you know 😃
😆 Hehe, yeah! That's very true.
The force is strong though, so as long as you have a place to store them and keep them fairly organised... if it makes you happy, accept it:)
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I love the story of how you tie-dyed your jeans as a teenager! Bravo! 😁
Just last week, I was watching TV and there was a woman wearing a blouse that was almost exactly the same color as her skin tone. At first glance, I thought she was topless on network-TV! LOL! 😂
Haha! Sometimes skin colour clothing does fool me.
Somehow I never thought that my shorts and khaki were that close to my skin colour. However, I had a religious family friend, who saw me in the town wearing it and nearly had a heart attack. He picked me up and drove miles "angry" scolding me, while a laughed the entire journey. He begged me NEVER to wear the colour brown ever again. If he's me now, he still remembers 🤣
It's interesting to hear about how your family is involved in fashion and how that affected your interests as a child. It's impressive that you were already designing and making your own clothes. It sounds like you had a lot of creativity and love for the craft. It's great that you were able to explore your interests and passions as a child. Who knows, maybe your early experiences with fashion will continue to inspire you in other ways throughout your life.
Thank you 😊
I'm happy you found my story interesting.
Exactly! I think my journey took me on many different paths, but I always go back to the basics of working with what I have and finding new ways of developing and extending the life of what is already in my possession.
The more we change and discover ourselves, the closer we go full circle back to our inner child, and doing so is what brought me back to discover happiness at a stage when my life felt stagnant and I loss the ability to see humour and laugh.
Thanks for stopping by:)))
I can totally relate to the feeling of having a closet full of clothes but feeling like you have nothing to wear. Your tie-dye jeans are so cool and it's great that your mom encouraged your creativity. I also appreciate your goal of having a minimalist wardrobe and seeking out thrifted finds. Thanks for sharing your fashion journey!
I am not surprised. 😆
That's from lessons I learned in my early adult life. made me no longer want to contribute to the wasteful fashion industry by paying full price. Coming to live in a first-world country opened my eyes to how materialistic people were. There's a great need to fit in and be in the latest seasonal trend. That's never been my style, as I've always been comfortable with my individualism.
I appreciate you stopping by:)))
Thank you for your article on our #StylishSaturday theme:)
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Getting what to wear during occasion might be very tasking,I honestly think everyone still find it hard to pick one clothe to wear when it comes to occasion
That's very true. I think that's the important thing really, and having a minimalist mindset that it doesn't matter if you are seen wearing the same thing repeatedly.
I'm always moving because I live a fairly nomadic life, and I think the next time I move (especially if it's a warm country, I'll make sure to have a handful of select garments that are lightweight yet durable, so that I can wash, wear, and interchange easily:)
It's not the easiest task, but I'll try to be mindful every time I think of buying a new item 🤗
👆
So much simpler (and more comfortable). Same same :)
You don't need fancy clothes. You're beautiful as is. <3
Yeah, my life is too nomadic now to care much about fashion. I just want comfort. I guess that's one of the reasons for you too 😍
Yes :)
Also my life shift back in 2019 - change of perspective. I just didn't want to promote the thinking anymore :D
And I'm in to movement - so one needs soft, flexible clothing!
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I went through a lot of changes in general in 2019 too. Then at the start of 2020, I felt like I needed drastic changes and then Covid propelled everything.
I hope that you're doing well and feeling content in your new space till you move again.
I'm been a little scarce, but it's just catching up with outstanding stuff from all the time travelling
Have a lovely day 😍🌻❤️
As you come and go, beautiful lady.
Keep it real :D ❤️ It's all good!!
You too.
Love it here. Decompressing! It's sublime. brb
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I used to make my own clothes when I was a teenager. Tops out of socks and dresses out of curtains. I thought I was so cool,you know I still think I was lol.
Rockstar jeans, I can just picture them.
I dress for comfort now and love earth clothes as well.
The whole clothing industry makes so much waste, its a shame more people don't upcycle xxxxx
I am fascinated by that idea 😍
People's pride make them ashamed to buy clothes from charity shops. There are so many charities here in the UK, that the shops are now more like boutique stores. I no longer buy new clothes, and I am at a stage in my life where I only need to have very few items of clothing.
People like you make the world better xxxx
This comes at a fortuitous time. I haven't bought new clothes for years and have been wearing pretty much the same stuff I've had for a decade. Now THAT's the definition of stale. My clothes not only don't fit my body build anymore, but they're just booooring and don't transmit the kind of energy that I've developed. So today I'm going to take to the street and find new stuff to wear. It's going to be an adventure of sorts. Thanks for the beautiful post, my friend!
Your comment made me smile. I congratulate you for not falling prey to the wicked fashion industry, social habits, or just a bad addiction as I and many others have suffered.
Now, THAT is important!💯
I have the confidence that you'll make wise decisions with your purchases.
Thanks for your lovely comment 😊
When I was in high school, a friend's mom took us to a bridal shop that had a big sale of $5 dresses that I assume were left overs from various events. Everyone said I should try this gold-colored dress on because of my blond hair. So I did.
Yeah what nobody took into account is that I also have yellow undertones in my skin (like, I have been asked repeatedly if I had jaundice, I don't), and so the whole thing blended with me and like you, everyone did a double take and thought I had walked out naked.
I did not buy that dress. LOL
Haha! That story is funny! Yeah, one has to know the right shade and colours for their complexion. Earth tones suit me, but I think it's because I have a warm personality, and yes, I can fool people easily into thinking that I'm naked. Bright colours are a winner for sure. However, I am not keen on pastels. I don't think pastels suit my personality at all.
For example that pyjama I'm wearing in the photo. It's just not the colour that lifts my spirit. I only bought it because it was the only size that fitted and I was in a hurry.
I'm glad that you didn't buy that gold dress 😆
You have a creative spirit - that is for sure. Nice that your reputation is that of being yourself. Your story and the encouragement from your mom is great.
I once had a camouflages situation too but not with a whole outfit just a fitted top. It is interesting.
I do not like to look like everyone else and always try to buy unique clothing. It is not always possible though but I am not a high street shopper. I do not like shopping although I like nice clothes.
I found that Dutch women have a knack for putting a personal stamp on their outfits more than the English do.
I was not a thrift shopper when I lived there, and I have always wondered what were some of the thrift stores that I probably was not aware of.
Yes I like that as well. The ladies here can even accessorize with a shawl. Simple outfits can then stand out. There are many thrift shops around not sure about Leiden though.
Yeah, I don't recall seeing one in Leiden. The closest shop I could think of was Hanes, where I took up garments and wondered if they were perhaps factory default, low quality, or just second-hand, but I still have doubts.
Are the thrift shops Charities like the UK? or independently owned?
Not sure about Hanes but the thrift shops I have seen are independently owned.
Ok, that's interesting. I would love to see the quality and also the price ranges. That's one good thing that the UK has going for it. Even in affluent towns, you'd be surprised to see how much the wealthy are shopping at thrift stores.
I loved this, even though I am so late!
I love the tie-dyed story and your knack for putting it all together. It really is an art that most do not posses and even though you are a free spirit, I had no idea that your genes are behind it. :) Even if you don't work in the industry, you are using your skill.
I look at my closet and have nothing to wear. Unfortunately, I have discovered I didn't need all these clothes, I wear the same good pieces, mixes, and matches. I bet I only need less than 20 pieces!
I have three kids and in the summer, I used to take shirts and tie die them (and their cousins) in one color and they would embellish them in ways to make them their own. That was so much fun!
The naked stories? Funny! And true!!!
It has taken me all my life to discover this too. I have so much downsizing to do!
I think putting a personal stamp on one's presentation is key and it shows your identity and personality.
The naked stories cracked me up. It was strange what people thought, especially the guy who thought it would have been normal for my nature 🤣
Wow! Sometimes listening to our parents specially our mum's will really bring out the best in us.
Haha, now you have become a fashion designer Because of the wisdom from your mom.
Survey says only 20% of the clothes in our wardrobe are what we actually use and wear.
For me personally I always give clothes that I do not use for I have three other beautiful siblings who are ready to have them not to mention some church mates as well and nieces so I don't really have a problem when it comes to my closet being full of clothes that I do not use.
Grateful if you have lots of clothes and it even stresses you out what and which clothes to wear for a lot of women, ladies now don't even have their own clothes to wear so having the opportunity to give out is such a joy.
Yes, I agree we are what we wear.
I do believe there's some truth in that!
It's a fulfilling feeling when one is able to donate clothes to others in need. For me, it's always like a cleansing of my soul to give away tangible possession:)))