Kelly Saiz
Ok, I get it, we’re in high school and we’re supposed to experiment with different things. Every girl occasionally craves trying something new, some even prefer the little risk of wearing something that gives them a feel-good high.
No one will ever make all of the right choices. Truthfully, I hesitate from writing about this because I feel guilty of some of the inappropriate outfits I have and will continue to pull over. However, it is a truth that some will make more good choices than others when it comes to dressing appropriately.
Yes, yes, judgments of style and fashion are all up to one’s perspective, so why does it matter if someone else doesn’t like what I’m wearing? Most of us know that we can make the opinion of other people matter as much or as little as we please. I’m a believer that there must be a fine balance between how much we do and do not care what other people think about us.
Being appropriate is simply a sign of respect to the people we are around. When a person dresses appropriately they are saying that they are not concerned about being either particularly vain or careless.
Every person has their own fashion laws. My brother, for example, does not and will not wear denim. I know people who will never leave an undergarment exposed in any way and I see others who seem to make a sport of highlighting the very same thing.
I encourage whoever reads this to define their own fashion laws. It’s been a fashion cliché that fashion rules are meant to be broken. True enough, but I still believe that some rules are made to never be broken.
Here are the basics of my own rules:
1. Moderation: Less accessories and less make up means more thoughtfulness and never less creativity! (P.S. too many Taylor Swift/hippie styled bracelets are getting old.)
2. Balance: Never highlighting the chest, shoulders/back, legs, butt, and waist at the same time. Pick one or two and please cover up and loosen up.
3. Where am I going? Is it appropriate to wear a strapless sequined shirt to school? No.
4. How would my boyfriend’s parents feel about this outfit if they saw it? It seems like a silly question, but it works. The next time that you think about wearing something for a guy (gasp)—ask this question. I also try my best to consider the logic of Coco Chanel—that it is better to leave more to the imagination than less. Yes, she lived in the 20th century, but perhaps times have changes less than we think.
