The Sunday Stories

Lifestyle. Home. Wellness. Career

  • Lifestyle
    • Life & Home
    • Travel & Adventures
    • Health & Wellness
    • Career & Finance
  • Creative
    • Books & Film
    • Music
    • Short Stories
  • Get in touch

I’m no fashion expert, but I think i’ve finally found some style

April 19, 2020 | by thesundaystories

I’m not saying that’s it, i’m done, I don’t need to improve any more. I’m merely observing a more relaxed approach to my lifestyle.

If you ask one of my longest serving (suffering) friends, Heather, about my style growing up, she’ll snort-laugh and ask ‘what style?’. I’ve got pictures of us, that will never see the light of day, wearing matching H&M outfits, my style heavily influenced by one Buffy the Vampire Slayer. 

I blame my lack of fashionable knowledge on the fact that I am an only child, I didn’t have a sister whose steps I could follow in or whose clothes I could steal and I was never cool enough to hang out with those older than myself. 

As a kid, I was short, skinny and mostly shapeless (aside from some heavily padded bras), I remember being desperate to wear crop tops like other girls when I was younger, but I hated the mole that sits next to my belly button, I remember instead, always wearing tops that covered my bum because I hated how flat it was. What I don’t remember is how I came to these conclusions about my body, I don’t remember ever receiving criticism about how I looked, so I’ll blame the media and the world’s relentless pursuit to make women feel inferior from birth.

Perhaps I can forgive myself for my fashion failings at the tender age of 12 and 13, after all, my Mother did my shopping, but I’m afraid to say this lack of self-awareness followed long into my teens and twenties. As I aged, I was usually a year or so behind the latest trend, either because I couldn’t afford the newest trainers, or I was simply oblivious until it had long run its course. As a result I have never considered myself particularly fashion-forward, I can remember many an occasion where a day or a night out was ruined because I just didn’t feel confident or comfortable in what I was wearing.

In case I hadn’t harped on about it enough, i’m almost 30 and I don’t know if any other 30 year olds have experienced this, but with this looming number, i’ve actually begun to feel something akin to acceptance. I know right, a woman accepting herself for who she is? ABOMINABLE! She must be burned.

I’m not saying that’s it, i’m done, I don’t need to improve any more. I’m merely observing a more relaxed approach to my lifestyle. I’ve unfollowed Influencers that constantly throw fast fashion in our faces with styles that I never would have been comfortable in at 19, let alone 29 and i’ve started looking at a simpler, longer-lasting style that suits me and allows me to indulge in my love of neutral colours.

Really, this entire blog post is an ode to Emma Hill, whose Instagram I happened upon about 4/5 months ago and whose style I have since developed an unhealthy obsession with (don’t worry Emma, no plans to show up on your door step just yet). For some reason, for years, I was under the assumption that I needed a new outfit for every event I went to and it needed to be completely different from anything I’d worn before just to make people say ‘oh, she looks nice’. The reality is, I don’t actually go out that much, I’ve always preferred a simple Jeans and T-shirt outfit, and, it turns out signature style goes a very long way. 

I read one of Emma’s blog posts where she explained why she no longer attends fashion week or follows the latest trends any more and I really resonated with her reasons – not that i’ve ever been remotely interested in fashion week but the point is, It’s almost like i’ve been given permission to stop worrying if what i’m wearing is ‘in fashion’, or if I look ok? Which i’m eternally grateful for.

In light of my new found self-acceptance, i’ve been through my wardrobes and decluttered entirely, i’m committed to investing in better quality, classic styles that will last me years, not just one season and for the first time in my life I actually feel quite excited about my new interest in my own personal style. I understand why girls and women the world over invest so much time and energy into fashion now. That’ it, you’ve got me, i’m converted.

Someone build me a walk in wardrobe immediately.

Leave a Comment / Filled Under: Living

Related Posts

Bramble Cocktail recipe
Anywhere but Here
Thoughts from a Married Woman
Next Post:
The Sunday Story Dreams
Previous Post:
The Perfect Spring/Summer Night In

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Two books. Two poorly written reviews. CMBYN is a Two books. Two poorly written reviews.

CMBYN is a beautifully written account of 17 year old Elio falling in love with 24 year old Oliver during a summer in Italy at his (Elio’s) parents villa. I loved everything about this book; the intensity, the vulnerability, the intimacy, even the moments of discomfort. It was the escape I desperately needed from a devastating start to 2021. 

On Earth is a letter from a son to a mother, it moves from stories of his childhood to knowledge of his mother’s past in Vietnam, creating an explanation for the nuances and intricate details of their family’s life. Full disclosure; I probably didn’t appreciate the story as much as I could have, or should have. Perhaps I’d had too much purple prose by this point but it is a beautifully written and terribly sad story. A quote that has stuck with me;

‘The truth is we don’t have to die if we don’t feel like it.

Just kidding.’
What can be said in New Year rhymes, That's not be What can be said in New Year rhymes,
That's not been said a thousand times?

The new years come, the old years go,
We know we dream, we dream we know.

We rise up laughing with the light,
We lie down weeping with the night.

We hug the world until it stings,
We curse it then and sigh for wings.

We live, we love, we woo, we wed,
We wreathe our brides, we sheet our dead.

We laugh, we weep, we hope, we fear,
And that's the burden of the year.
-
Ella Wheeler Wilcox, “The Year” (1910)
Sorry for the spam today, I haven’t touched this Sorry for the spam today, I haven’t touched this account in a week or so and I had the sudden urge to update it today 🙃.
I rushed to finish An American Marriage today as my last book of the year, tomorrow I plan to write up my end of year round-up of books for my blog (which has been severely neglected for months). I’m really happy with the vast majority of books I’ve read this year and my aim next year is again, not to worry about quantity, but aim for quality.
Behind AAM are the beginning of my TBR pile for 2021, any there that you’ve read?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

#kindle #kindlebooks #bookblogger #bookblog #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #blog #blogger #aquietmoment #livelifebeautifully #momentsofmine #aestheticbooks #inspiremyinstagram #showusyourhygge #ofsimplethings #bookishflatlay #dailydoseofcalm #cosymoments #myquietlife 
#booksandtea #anamericanmarriage #callmebyyourname #silversparrow #onearthwerebrieflygorgeous
Yeah experiencing Christmas with children is proba Yeah experiencing Christmas with children is probably cool and all but have you ever watched a pupper open presents? 
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#christmas #christmasday #christmaspresents #jackrussell #jackrussellterrier #jrt #jackrussellsofinstagram #dogsofinstagram #doggo #christmasdogsofinstagram #pupperdoggo #pupper
Another throwback to 2 days before Christmas and a Another throwback to 2 days before Christmas and an eerily quiet but kind of magical city centre ❤️ everything was shut and it made my mum emotional, but I preferred it.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#christmasinlondon #christmaslights #christmas #christmas2020 #londonlife #london #londoncity #christmasdecor #festivevibes #festiveseason
Throwback to a quiet Christmas table on Christmas Throwback to a quiet Christmas table on Christmas Eve ❤️🎄
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
#christmas #christmaseve #christmas2020 #christmastree #christmastablesetting #christmastable #christmasdecor #quietchristmas #festive #festivevibes #tbt #blogger #cosy #cosyhome #cosystyle

Copyright © 2021 The Sunday Stories

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok