The Isolation Diaries has merged a little with my Sunday Thoughts series. Mostly because i’m loathe to harp on about my anxieties – they annoy me enough as it is, though I must admit i’ve felt remarkably more relaxed this weekend, but perhaps that’s because my parents and I have been in our safe little bubble and i’ve managed to avoid any single bit of news on the Coronavirus.
I’ve spent the majority of my long, bank holiday weekend, yes even my birthday, holed up in my house (no, not in the garden soaking up Vitamin D) shopping online. I’ve made a decision to give up fast fashion and start investing in my wardrobe. If I haven’t already mentioned it, i’m almost 30 so I feel I need to start dressing better.
Cheap fashion must have always been a ‘thing’ but I suppose the ‘fast’ element has come into play in the era of the internet. I’ve never been particularly fashionable, I don’t have an older sister whose style I can copy and it’s taken almost 29 years to really come to terms with a fixed style for myself. I wouldn’t necessarily say i’m a trend-chaser, but i’ve certainly always looked at how other people have dressed and decided I should style myself in the same way which has led to a very confusing overall look. I’ve also always been a ‘quantity over quality’ kind of person, which has suited my budget in recent years; If I ever had a spare £50 to spend, i’d rather buy 2 or 3, or maybe even squeeze 4 items out of that cash than buy one decent quality piece or save it until I can really invest in something.
The problem with that philosophy though, is that, inevitably, you get what you pay for, don’t you? You’ll see an influencer posting outfit after outfit on their instagram, often with the words AD next to their list of affiliate links and you’re thrilled when you find they’re working with affordable brands, so that you too can look like an Instagram Model. Only, 6 months later you’ll throw to clothes out because they actually are as cheap as they cost and they’re also no longer of interest to the fickle fashion seasons.
In recent months I discovered a content creator whose simple and classic style has inspired me to accept what i’ve long since known about myself; I’m a simple fashion kinda girl. I love jeans and a t-shirt, maybe a blazer to go with it. What I love most about her style is that she often points out that she no longer follows the changing seasonal trends, she doesn’t attend Fashion Weeks and she fully advocates her love of neutral colours and simple styling. Following this person’s Instagram and, more recently, her YouTube channel has lead me embrace my own style and try to build on this, so that I have my own signature look. In turn, by investing in the clothes I buy and taking better care of them, I hope it means i’ll eventually be spending less but I sadly suspect it means i’ll be broke more often.
It’s been an odd old weekend; Despite living with two other people and a dog i’ve spent it largely alone, but I haven’t felt lonely or bored. I feel quite inspired, which fashion has never done for me. So that’s nice.
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