Flashback Friday: My Style Evolution.

I was browsing through my old picture folders in anticipation for this post and it's humbling, to say the least, to view my evolution not only in style, but in confidence as well.

So, I'm going to take it back a bit so, you can see where I'm coming from because, this has been a long time coming.

Let's take it back to high school 2007- 2011. Here are a few highlights:

[caption id="attachment_80" align="alignnone" width="306"] Senior year of high school.[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_76" align="alignnone" width="300"] Wearing my mom's old dress, that I actually still own till today.[/caption]

 

High school was an extremely trying time for me, especially in terms of my self-expression through fashion because I had to wear a school uniform on a daily basis and even when I got to dress down, I was extremely insecure and it was therefore hard for me to be confident in my outfit choices. Plus, in high school, trends determined style, and, I was never quite able to keep up.

My interest in fashion and style was built out of necessity. The first time that I picked up a needle and thread was to tailor myself into some hand-me-down jeans my mother gave me. I found my love for fashion, style and sewing that very day because I realized it was all at my fingertips, a whole world of possibilities.

Graduating high school gave me the opportunity to start afresh and express myself through my fashion. All, throughout the summer of 2011, I was perusing thrift stores and picking up core pieces of my new self, my true self.

[caption id="attachment_90" align="alignnone" width="225"] Fall 2011[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_91" align="alignnone" width="225"] Fall 2011[/caption]

 

The outfit above was one of my favorites that year. It was my birthday outfit and I was turning 17. This look was so exciting for me because, I was so new to fashion and style. I was fresh into college and wearing things that were both comfortable and flattering. I bought that Army blazer from the Salvation Army for $5 and I got compliments left and right on my look. .

Moving on, in 2012, I had an extremely pivotal point my evolution. Honestly, this is the look that started everything. Till this very day, I still rock this particular look, this "aesthetic". Getting yarn braids changed my life to a degree. It was the one hairstyle that perfectly fit all aspects of my life.

They were low maintenance, they were beautiful and they fit my face perfectly.

So, I'll tell the short version of how I got on to doing yarn braids. I wanted to do regular braids and I didn't have any braiding hair but I had this huge ball of black yarn.  I remember searching on Google," Can you braid hair with yarn?" and getting to work that very day and below is the result!

[caption id="attachment_97" align="alignnone" width="440"] Winter 2012(January)[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_99" align="alignnone" width="449"] Winter 2012[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_104" align="alignnone" width="431"] Summer 2012[/caption]

 

 

In retrospect, I'm so proud of myself and the steps I took towards self-discovery and expression through personal style. I recall so many times, I would wear certain outfits and people would look at me, and regardless of the expression I would want the floor to swallow me.

But, here I am, 4 years later sharing my sense of style with the world.  I've had friends, even strangers, approach me and tell me how they wish they could express themselves through their style like I do and I always tell them it's never too late and there's never too dire of a circumstance to begin expressing your sense of style.

[caption id="attachment_109" align="alignnone" width="702"] 2013, Coney Island.[/caption]

Flashback over, till next time!

Love & Light,

Rachel.