What Your Style Says About You
Creating and Manifesting a “Look”
Last night, I reenacted my own version of Adam Sandler’s Click and dove deep into my photo archives. This is no ordinary tomb, as I have kept an organized log of my life since 2010.
I do this from time to time given my reminiscent tendencies, but the exercise couldn’t have coincided better with this week’s prompt, because let me tell you how much my style has evolved over the years. We’re talking radical change.
To think that once upon a time, pastel Vineyard Vines T’s and Gold Cup Sperrys signified “drip” is truly beyond me. Having grown up as a private school kid, the look fits the bill. You remember when Southern Tide dropped with Smathers & Branson American flag belts?? If you think I wasn’t rocking a full American patriot x stereotypical Florida frat guy aesthetic, you’re absolutely delusional. You could have caught me flexing seersucker every other day of the week, and I was so comfortable and proud of that.
We all have our regrettable fits to look back on, but what’s more notable is the transformation to where we are now. Think back to when your style began to shift. Lemme share mine with you.
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In the summer of 2017, I set sail for my first internship in New York City. I packed my button-downs and bright colored polos with an eclectic mix of athletic gear exclusively from Nike. It’s typical to live in an NYU dorm as an intern, and mine was in the heart of Washington Square Park. Once my parents left, I did what I have always done when placed in a new environment: solo exploration. I walked about 12 miles that day before meeting up with some friends at a boujee rooftop bar – underage, of course.
I was enthralled with the city’s culture. It was love at first sight, but as I immersed myself in the concrete jungle, I came to a realization: my style was so so so wack. It would have been more subtle for me to have “Florida Man” tattooed on my forehead, but it wasn’t the desire to fit in or assimilate that drove this eureka moment. I had never been exposed to style like that.
The brands, the cohesion, the chaos, the mismatching, the experimentation.
How could I make my own look? Where would I even begin?
Since that day, I’ve been focused on manifesting my own look through unapologetic and strategic thinking. I ain’t got the bread to shell out for the type of gear I’d prefer, but I make the most with what I have. Fashion has become an expression of mine that I don’t get through work or my personal life. It used to be something I focused on purely to conform, but that NY moment changed me forever. Nowadays, I dress for me and nobody else, and in my humble opinion, I think that’s how everyone should view it.
Fashion and style should be a representation of your creativity. It should be unique to you and a reflection of your confidence. I went from wearing the Gold Cup Sperrys to 2 thick gold chains, and to be honest with you, there’s nothing more liberating.
The only way to discover your style is through experimentation. Hopefully, you treated quarantine as a fashion laboratory, mixing up styles like chemicals poured from beaker to beaker. If you didn’t and you’re looking to try something new, don’t be discouraged. It doesn’t materialize overnight. It’s something you must focus on and be willing to step out of your comfort zone.
Lastly, money doesn’t dictate drip. In fact, I think it’s an accomplishment when you’re working with less and able to do more with your wardrobe, makeup, accessories, etc. Falling into brand-envy will drive you nuts because not all of us are sporting Dior. It’s just not feasible, but it is an aspiration.
Don’t let anybody tell you how to dress. It’s the same thing as letting somebody tell you how to live. It’s your life – rock your own swag.
About The Series
Sometimes you gotta set your own deadlines to get where you wanna go. 15 articles for 15 weeks, all randomly selected until we reach the last. Maybe then I’ll form the habit? Each week selected and announced through TikTok if anyone cares.
Graham Olney
Graham is the host of Tough To Say (sorry, Barry). In hopes of forming better writing habits, he’s committing to a 15 week self-imposed program to sharpen the skills.