Your style sacrifices, superpowers, and (world) changing abilities.

I fully agree with everything you’ve said here. Conscious decisions or at the very least, awareness, is important. I’d also add that beginning to explore your own style leads to acceptance, or at least respect, of other people’s choices (and vice versa).

I truly think that clothing has more power than some people are willing to give it, and whilst that’s fine if clothes aren’t your thing, I’d also argue that small steps in wearing exactly what you want, has the potential to change your world.

Thank you for the insight, Leah! Becoming more openminded + aware of other people’s choices is definitely another huge perk of self-styling. Actually, now that I think about it, I hear people dissing other people’s clothes almost every day, and making fun in innocuous ways…that maybe aren’t so harmless in the long run. Hmmm. Fodder for another post maybe?

Also, yes! Clothes don’t necessarily have to be “your thing” but the awareness is universal. And oh gosh, how much changing your own world plays into the seemingly larger “changing the world” phrase I blithely threw out there. Beautifully said.

i love you. you are pure and beautiful and intellectual i miss you. you are amazing.

I do love the idea of a highly personal uniform. Think Karl Lagerfeld or Stella McCartney, where every outfit is similar, but every piece is so uniquely them.

And I totally believe in judging by appearances and how your ‘look’ tells the world how to treat you. And because of these, I soo agree with you that style should be deeply personal & can totally change the world.

I think personal fashion is just one example of how most people compromise thought. I do believe people should live actively in thought and decision, but it’s easier to avoid and internalize what marketing has already packaged for the masses. Many people would rather just not live consciously, in my opinion. A lot of brilliant thinkers have raised this point in other fields of discussion, yet it can only influence so many people each time.

This is incredibly well timed. I just started blogging again. And do you know what finally inspired me? That little extra time i took in the morning to take out and try on different outfits and accessories and wear a blouse that had been lying around neglected because I was too lay to pair it with something. It wasn’t much, but that little bit went on to be an awesome day- I was more awake, smiling, and observant. There is clearly some correlation.

Thanks so much for writing, Ryan. Most definitely, I agree that it often feels much easier to absorb prepackaged marketing without applying critical thought. Conscious living requires real effort. And you are absolutely welcome to your opinion, but I would disagree on the point that people would rather not live consciously- the conscious decision to live unconsciously is a rare one. So often we live unconsciously because we have no idea what we’re missing, or of the true capabilities within us. Many people more brilliant than I have indeed raised this point in the past, and I might not change the world with one blog post, but I believe it is always, always worth stating.

Thanks again for commenting!

Hmmmm a highly personal uniform! That’s an interesting spin on terminology! I’m going to have to think about that one

Ooh and also, you’ve reminded me of a near-future post I need to write. Fashion is absolutely JUST ONE MEDIUM through which ideas + limitations are expressed, albeit quite a potentially powerful one

Thankyou for your support, Jess <3

Ipsita!! I’m PSYCHED that you’re posting again! And yes I agree- there is a definite correlation between happiness/inspiration and making the extra effort, be it in the morning, with our clothes, or something else entirely! Thank you so much for sharing your anecdote

I’ve never thought about it before, but I do spend a lot of time on my style, or the message I send out through what I wear. I make lots of my own clothes, and wear handmade accessories as a way of supporting artists and artisans. On the other hand, it’s hard and takes some time finding your style, as I can see with my teenage daughter. Teens I suppose, don’t want to stand out too much from their crowd. It would be interesting to see how many ‘style periods’ a person has in her lifetime, how often she changes her style to reflect life’s changes. on Orce you’ve found your style, can it stay basically the same throughout your life?

This post is stellar Tessa and unequivocally true. What we wear and how we robe ourselves speaks volumes about how we see ourselves and how we want others to see us. I agree that if it’s a conscience choice to not give that much attention to clothing, but if it’s by default and you are constantly reaching for the same items over and over, you are doing a disservice. Great post with some great insight!

Tessa, I’m so glad I found you (I forget how), because I found myself nodding emphatically during this entire post! To your “tough love” section: yes, yes, YES!

I’m from the DC area, and it is such an uphill battle talking about style. So many people around here (not everyone mind you – thankfully – ) love to say that they’re too busy to care about fashion, but they only say that because fashion automatically equals “frivolous” in their minds, and DC types want to be taken seriously above all else. I wish every Hill staffer and K Street lobbyist could read this post.

Thanks for this lovely insight; I have just happily subscribed!

Hey Valerie! I’m actually from the DC area myself, and I totally feel ya. I wouldn’t mind a bit if you want to forward this post to your congressman! Haha.

Thanks so much for your kind words- they truly made my day. I’m really amazed that this post has seemed to strike a chord with you guys!

Thanks, Fajr! “Doing a disservice” is another great way of putting it- unconscious dress definitely underserves ourselves! Really appreciate you chiming in

Hey Laura, thanks so much for your thoughtful comment! I find it hard to imagine someone’s style truly remaining the same throughout an entire lifetime, since we evolve so much as individuals. The teenager years (which I’m really just leaving) are definitely hard on personal style, but on the plus side, it’s also a wake-up call from conformity & societal judgments – if you’re brave enough to see it as that! Hmmm I think you might have just inspired a future post

Amen to that! Strange as it is though, I am a fashion school graduate, and have still yet to develop a real sense of style. I tend to gravitate towards simplicity and timelessness in my own clothing choices, and I think that reflects who I am as a person. But I agree that once we take personal style as a way to define ourselves and our world, that our world would be a much better place. Style should be freeing, not restrictive. Currently working on my own style – it’s a work in progress, as is life.

[...] If you think you have lots of options for dressing, you may not realize that you’re being humored. Sure, we have more choices than ever before. Yet what we really have is a thousand different ready-made interpretations, courtesy of the fashion industry, celebrity culture, and media (blogs definitely included.) The reality is that no one in these industries is facilitating your style freedom. Designers, editors, and stylists everywhere make a case for “developing your own style” and yet dictate a preconceived notion of what “looks good” through editorials, trends, and fashion shows. You could make a case for them expressing their creative talents, but I think an important question to put forth is: Is it at the expense of others’ creativity? Who's the stylist? | Gustavo Minas flickr There seems to be this idea that only certain people are creative, or that designers are a special breed. While I definitely believe we all have different talents and strengths, I think a lot of this kind of thinking boils down to elitism. Certain people in the industry hold the power reins. They determine, at some point, that we should look a certain way, and you can damn expect that it’ll filter out onto the streets in time. Therefore, I refuse to be a part of it. When I started Rethinking Style this summer, I was overflowing with ideas for what one could do with existing clothes, but not how to call them into existence. In other words, after a year of studying Apparel Design, I still struggled with finding a design approach would reflect my greater philosophy on individual expression & decision-making. [...]

[...] If my theories hold and what you wear reflects how you think, then the strategy of personal style must be part of your 2011 gameplan. [...]

[...] (P.S. Ever wish your clothes were as interesting as you? Discover how you can bridge the chasm between how you dress and who you are! ) [...]

[...] represent, I believe, the beginning of a new kind of fashion design intended very much to empower the wearer’s own style freedom. I would LOVE to hear what you [...]

Hail and greetings! I am late on this post. I have only now discovered your work and theories. Fabulous. As a jewelry designer/intuitive I am deeply moved by the power and potential of adornment to change the way we look feel and think. I resonate greatly with what you share here. I design and fabricate jewelry that supports it’s wearer. Adornment infused with intention. Powerful. Powerful stuff. Recipes for manifestation.

[...] If how you dress is connected to who you are….then who are [...]

I’m deeply entertained to read this, Tessa, since it so perfectly encapsulates what you try to do: encourage conscious action. I always agreed with your emphasis on encouraging people to think (rather than teaching them how to), but I didn’t know the ideas had their roots all the way back here.

Points for consistency!

Haha, damn twitter mislinks. Glad it could accidentally validate my consistency, though! Feeling inspired for our e-course? Man, this was a fiesty post…

[...] Keep defaulting, and it might become one of those debilitating habits you can’t kick. One that undermines the other enlightened decisions you’ve fought hard to make in your brilliant life, whispering hypocrisy into your psyche. And maybe even hinders your abilities to change the world… [...]