Discovering my style
Charlie Nadin ponders his personal journey with discovering how to be comfortable with his own style
Day to day the question of what to wear can become rather confronting. It has become a point of contention in my life. I want to explore my sense of style and express myself through fashion, but I don’t know where to start. Do I start with my self-consciousness that makes me refrain from wanting to stand out? Even if I bypass that, what would I feel happy and confident wearing? It is with these doubts in mind that I write this article not as a piece of advice, but rather as a meditation on what finding one’s style might mean for me.
It is well known today that a positive self-image is an important factor in maintaining a happy life. It’s only natural then that people should look to clothes, accessories and other aesthetic goals to improve their sense of self worth by styling. Certainly, in my experience of wanting to experiment with my style, it feels like I’m chasing an identity expression that I am unable to communicate at present. It has led to some odd decisions, such as searching images for a ‘hippy chic’ aesthetic and ordering a pair of glasses with green tinted lenses.
Certainly, in my experience of wanting to experiment with my style, it feels like I’m chasing an identity expression that I am unable to communicate at present
If there is any principle that I know to follow, it’s to take what you do know you like and run with it. I love green: it is my favourite colour and given the chance I would probably put green on most things I own. And that is part of forming my identity in my, hopefully new, style. I want people to look at me and think that I have a clear understanding of who I am – even if that isn’t always entirely true. I find myself wavering between different aesthetics, not knowing what is ‘appropriate’. However, a big part of making my style around me should probably involve trying new things, blurring some lines. I’ve always been to some extent stereotypically androgynous (my hair is long and I’m hardly high-masc), so perhaps that is something to play with.
If there is any principle that I know to follow, it’s to take what you do know you like and run with it
I hope that my musings have been helpful, or at least make for an amusing read, wherever you may be in your journey to discovering your style. Perhaps you have it all figured out, or maybe you feel as clueless as I do. Feel free to drop some thoughts and tips in the comments – I could honestly do with some guidance.
