Dress: Me Made
Sweater: Thrifted
Belt: Sisters :)
Shoes: Sperry's
Socks: Old Navy
Broach: Vintage
Watch: Sam Moon
***Pictures By Me***
As much as I like to be my own unique self and person, uninfluenced by the opinion of others around me, I feel that I have fallen away from being true to myself. I remember the days when I first discovered my love for vintage and embraced that new found love with a burning passion of dressing from centuries gone by. As I look back on pictures from years past I have see how my fashion has evolved and devolved, but also how I seem to have lost a part of myself over the fear of others opinions. That seems strange even to say or admit, but as I look at how my style has changed and slowly downgraded from the period perfect love that I once had for vintage eras, the only conclusion I can bring forth is that somewhere deep inside I still base what I wear on others opinions of me.
It is hard to accept that those fears are what have lead me to fall away from what my style used to be, but I have to accept them as partially true. While style in and of itself is singular to each person and changes along with us as we enter and exit different seasons of our life, I can't help feeling like something is missing when I look in the mirror and try to pick an outfit. I am missing that vibrant passion for vintage style and embracing it for all that it is without worrying about what others say or think! Why have those fears kept me from wearing the things that I used to?
As I look through pictures of other vintage styled souls, I can't help but see my old self in their style. Their style that is so self confident and proud.....not caring what others think because they know they are unique and one of a kind!
Maybe it is that I love fashion itself so much that my style have slowly formed around a look that embraces so many different types of "looks" that my wardrobe is a vast array of past loves, losses, and new discoveries? I dabble in different eras. I try different styles I see people wearing. I mimic current trends that catch my eye, and in the midst of it I am constantly changing. My style is not always stable. Some days I might look like a confident red lipped lady from the 1940's. Some days a swinging skirt donning 50's girl. And other days I might look like a classic version of a modern lady. It is unpredictable (at times), and yet I always find myself going back to my old love. While at times I change out of a period appropriate piece from a past decade due to an unnecessary uncertainty in the back of my mind in regards to others, some days I pull that period appropriate piece out of the rubble and put it back on knowing that it is time for me to find myself again....to embrace who I am and confidently go out and conquer the world.
My old love will always be my first love, and no matter how many times I fall away from it, I will always find myself back where I stood years ago with victory rolls, hair scarves, t strap shoes, pink tights, and clotch hats, walking through the doors of a public university and not caring what people thought of me, because I knew who I was. I was unique. I was one of a kind, and no one could change that. No one could steal that away from me and make me into someone else.
They say that some people hide behind their clothes, but to me, my clothes are what helped me to step out and be seen. Be seen not as the shy and quiet girl who hardly talked to anyone, who only speaks when spoken to, but as the girl who knows who she is and isn't afraid to show it. To be bold and loud without ever opening my mouth. A girl who embraces her uniqueness and hopefully inspires others to do the same.
Really, when you get to the heart of the matter, its all about staying true to yourself. Sure, there might be other lovely things and styles that catch your eye but there is only ONE you. Thus, in order to be fully you....to be confident as you, you have to embrace the style that calls your name. The style that makes you giddy with excitement every time you wear that dress or see pictures of others who share your same style. Your first love will always be what you come back to. So try as you might, even when you loose your way, you will always find a way back.
Do you ever lose sight of who you are?
Does you style change or stay the same?
What is your "first love" style?
-Madison
I really love classy and vintage styles, but I have a hard time implementing them all the time into my outfits. Partially because I am lazy being a very casual dresser because of how comfortable that is, partially because again a lot of my clothes are things that I like, but still aren't completely aligned with either one of those styles. I have a lot of individual pieces, that I haven't exactly figured out the best ways to style.
ReplyDeleteSarah
www.sewcharacteristicallyyou.com/blog
I think that's sometimes my problem Sarah! So you are not alone in that:)
Delete-Madison
Madison I loved reading this! It takes an incredible strength to let yourself be seen, and to be true to who you are -- style-wise or otherwise. I think everyone can relate to getting a bit lost now and then; I know when other voices are so loud, it's hard to trust that my voice is the right one. But you're so right: what matters is that you let yourself rediscover that 'first love' and that you don't let anyone dull that shine. I think your blog (esp. your recent posts, as you go back to your gorgeous vintage-inspired self) is the perfect example of the beauty that comes with being genuine and authentic.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Chrisy for you absolutely sweet comment (as always)! You totally made my day:)
Delete-Madison
I love this Madison!!
ReplyDeleteI love your outfit!! My style has changed over the years, but I have always admired vintage and classic styles but I don't always know how to wear them. Sometimes, I also shy away from wearing what I feel comfortable in because of what other people might think - my style is more unique than most people I know but that shouldn't define who I am! It is hard to be true to yourself at times.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you find yourself in my same boat at times.
Delete-Madison
I loved reading this, Madison. I feel so related to many of the things you say! I try really hard not to be influenced by what people think/say but I don't always succeed. My style has always been feminine, preppy and classic. I like seeing what's on trend but I don't always follow the trends and I never get out of my comfort zone regarding fashion. I believe that getting dress is a way to express yourself so we all have our own particular style which is different from everyone else.
ReplyDeletehttp://memoriesofthepacific.blogspot.com.es/
Such a cute outfit! I think that this may be one of my favorite outfits that you've shared:)
ReplyDeleteI totally understand what you're talking about. I feel like I sometimes end up worrying a little too much, and losing a pieced of myself in the process. I've always admired how beautifully you express yourself- love that about you.
Love this. I've lost a bit of myself, in all honesty. There's something frightening about going into places that you feel like an outcast in anyways and being different, being bold, and so...I stopped. I stopped being bold and different, and I've definitely lost a bit of myself. I'm finding it again, though, just in different ways.
ReplyDeleteOne of the things that I love about living in the modern era (besides the internet!) is that we have the freedom and ability to play with different eras of dress and style! It's okay to not be a purist, just as it's okay to be a strict one era girl. I'm newish on the vintage scene, but wearing vintage styles has really made me feel better about myself. For the first time, I genuinely like what I'm wearing, rather than only being okay with it.
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