Not too long ago on a Thursday night, I found myself stumped because I was having such a hard time styling an outfit for myself. It was already midnight and I had to put together an ensemble for a photography meetup held by @theportraitculture in San Diego, CA. Since I was going as a model and not a photographer, I wanted to wear something cute and original. The location was at Mission Bay so I also wanted to feel comfortable and laid back, you know? Of course, just like every other girl, I threw myself on my bed in frustration and moaned the five-word phrase girls are known for.
“I HAVE NOTHING TO WEAR!”
I’m pretty sure EVERY single girl that reads this can relate to it. For me, those words are like saying “Ow” when something didn’t even hurt. It’s simply a phrase that slips out of my mouth without even thinking. Whenever I find myself in a situation like this, I end up laughing because 1. I am obviously being dramatic & 2. I have a closet full of clothes ahead of me waiting to be turned into something new. To make this story short, I realized that I really wanted to wear a flannel, except I only had one that I bought when I was in high school. Besides, it was a long sleeve and kind of dull. I wanted to feel fun and sexy! I kept looking through my closet and found nothing once again.
So when I got myself into this fashion funk, I started by changing my perspective. Instead of asking myself, “what goes with this shirt?” I asked, “which shirt can I change into a piece I wish I had?” Suddenly I remembered about that one trend where girls would turn their long sleeves into strapless ones. I got so excited because that meant that my old flannel was going to work after all. I was too lazy to watch a tutorial on it so I pretty much just winged it. I grabbed the flannel, folded the collar and wrapped it around my body. I then fixed the front over my chest and buttoned it up starting on the third button (you don’t want to rip it either), but this also varies depending on your chest size. Finally, I just grabbed the sleeves, tied them into a knot and tucked them into the sides.
It looked great BUT something was missing. I accomplished the fun part but what about being sexy? So starting from the bottom I unbuttoned my shirt up until the knot and VOILA! I fell in love with this style since it was perfect for the meetup. I created a shirt that perfectly portrayed my personality and most importantly flattered my body type! Finally, I just loved how it showed a bit of skin, which gave a sultry vibe while keeping it tasteful.
FASHION is what you buy, STYLE is what you do with it
Pictures taken by @readyjackart
https://www.instagram.com/jackreadyart/
So next time you find yourself in a fashion funk as I did, just remember that you ALWAYS have something to wear! You just need to get those juices flowing and find inspiration in your own closet to put together the perfect look for any occasion. If you guys ever try this look and post a pic on Insta, make sure to tag me on it, I would love to see how you styled it yourself.
Lastly, take this as a reminder that we don’t always need to buy new clothes and follow all trends to be stylish. To be completely honest, I am a college student myself and that means I’m broke most of the time. At least when it comes to shopping. It’s really rare that I buy tons of new clothes so don’t feel discouraged if you can’t afford it either. Like my mom always say’s
“Never limit yourself and instead encourage yourself to always find a way!
xoxo Paola Fog