How I Got Voted ‘Best Dressed’ In High School

“As I try on clothes in my closet and ways to tailor them to my liking, I establish boundaries with the type of clothing I want in my wardrobe.”

It was 2011. My mom and I lived at a relative’s house waiting in a new place to move to. I picked up my cousin’s middle school year looking at the superlatives.

You have the typical, Most Athletic, Best Hair, Class Clown. Then I scrolled down to the coolest-looking couple voted ‘Best Dressed.’

From there I made becoming ‘Best Dressed’ a mission.

I studied fashion magazines, bloggers, and even popular TV shows for inspiration. I drew and made a list of outfit combinations with the items I had and wanted in my closet.

This became the foundation for finding my style.

I started blogging and documenting my outfits, hoping to become a popular influencer. I even curated outfit ideas.

I discovered what became my current personal style: maximalist, affluent Southerner, and flirty.

But what is the REAL recipe to becoming ‘Best Dressed.’

Discover Your Personal Style Slowly

My personal style didn’t come together from picking out an outfit.

It became an accumulation of life events and ways of coping.

I wanted to be a popular girl in middle school, attempting to solve my insecurity. I then incorporated accessories into my outfits.

In high school, of course, I want to be well-liked. The cool people had a preppy phase. I had a stronger appreciation for long-lasting clothing and elements that look good on my body.

Becoming one of these sorority girls in college had the pressure of becoming trendy so you’ll become the so-called ’fashion icon’ on campus.

While I loved the ‘elevated basics’ look with fashion-forward pieces, it also started my toxic fast-fashion phase.

I bought new clothes every week for partying and discarded them when they were out of style.

When the pandemic hit and I started my big girl job, I had a rude wake-up call.

I spent too much money on things I wore only a few times. Bring you to my next tip,

Don’t Be a Victim to What Everyone Wears

In new environments, wearing the same silhouettes and outfit combinations everyone wore became a way to fit in.

The pressure of buying a new outfit wasted my money and the time to appreciate my wardrobe.

As I try on clothes in my closet and ways to tailor them to my liking, I establish boundaries with what type of clothing I want in my wardrobe.

For example, with the long baggy shorts in style, I remember war flashbacks with my mom about looking too masculine in my uniforms.

If I know I did not have good memories of wearing that item, I know good and well I’m not picking it up, even if everyone and their moms wore the same clothing.

But there was a ‘trend’ I continue to wear, regardless of how anyone feels, flatform shoes.

One, I’m 4’11,” I need all of the height in the world. Two, I succumb to long bottoms because I never have time to shorten the hems. Flatform shoes are perfect for my situation.

Because I didn’t fall into the trends that won’t suit me in the future…

Make the Most of What You Have

Living in Charlotte with a closet full of items I wouldn’t wear in its original state made it stressful to find outfits that fit my liking.

But I didn’t want to go to places like H&M or the Gap where they operated on fast fashion models that made pieces unflattering on my body and wasted hundreds on tailoring.

Instead, I learned how to alter the items I have in my closet.

Working at H&M I ended up with deeply discounted clothing still in my closet.

I cut up those t-shirts and ill-fitting pants into key items to wear going out.

Of course, I got my money’s worth by repairing older clothing and now I’m learning to patch up items in cute ways.

Of course, the better quality clothes were go-to items in my wardrobe paired with the new secondhand, vintage, and ethically made pieces loved on for years.

This outfit is one of them.

Tap in the comment section: Describe your personal style. Did you have life events and current professions that influenced the way you dress?