Fashion, style, trends, whatever you want to call it- have always been a passion of mine. Not in terms of “keeping up” per say, but more so in terms of looking good, feeling good, and overall boosting my own confidence. I do find what we wear to be our biggest form of immediate self-expression. When we wake up in the morning, the first thing we do is choose an outfit based on so many different factors: our mood, our demands for the day, how we’re feeling in our body, etc. Our outfit expresses all of that, so I have learned to utilize my clothing as a form of motivation and “feel good” vibes.
The Benefits of Higher-Quality Pieces
When it comes to budget vs. higher end items, I learned with age where it was most valuable for me to invest. There are really three things I heavily consider when shopping for clothing items:
- Timelessness: Is it a timeless piece or something in trend currently? If the piece is timeless and will last me for years, I opt for quality, higher-end pieces because they are made to last. Then I do not find myself buying multiple versions of it, only to be spending the same dollar amount, and not truly loving any of them.
- Comfortability: Most higher-end items are made more comfortably due to the material, design, etc. My biggest example- the bodysuit. I wear a bodysuit multiple times a week, therefore, I want to ensure I’m comfortable and confident in it. Nobody wants a see-through, non-stretch, non-thong bodysuit. Nobody. I said it. And unfortunately, when budget shopping, this is typically the quality you’ll find. Bodysuits being a timeless staple, I opt for purchasing higher-priced items.
- Duration: How long do I want this item to last? Am I wearing it a few times? Or is it something that will see a lot of wears? If the item is something I am going to wear over and over again, I opt for higher-end, quality. I want the item to withstand time and be able to hold up through plenty of uses. However, many times I buy pieces for photoshoots, one time uses, or for a quick trend. And in those cases, budget friendly is my go-to.
Some of My Favorite Places for Higher-Quality Items
- Abercrombie
- Free People
- REVOLVE
- Levi’s
- Nordstrom
- Louis Vuitton (if we’re going very high-priced, I will invest in my handbags/purses because they get so much use and last me forever!)
Fashion and Self-Expression
My style has certainly changed over the years, especially as I have entered different stages in life. The season I am in right now, embracing my creative nature, motherhood, and business, my style is certainly reflective of it. I opt for comfort, but also find an importance in keeping on trend and looking good. For someone that spends their entire day wiping asses, being spit-up on, cooking 75 meals a day, comfort has to happen. But I also don’t want to lose myself in that. I may be functional when doing all of those things, but I certainly don’t feel good if I am doing all those things in messy sweats on a daily basis.
With running a business and working from home, I have also found that when I do get “dressed” (not just loungewear and sweats), I am so much more productive with my day. I tend to be more motivated to knock things off my to-do list. (Sidenote- I’d be completely lying if I said this is what happens every day. Certainly not. I definitely embrace days that require messy sweatpants and moving minimally from my couch.)
Empowering Style Choices
Self-empowerment and motivation can certainly be found in many other ways. But for myself, I have completely seen a difference when I feel good about my outfit choice. And it’s truly such an effortless fix each day.
I know it is so tempting and easy to throw on the quickest outfit each day, especially when we’re caring for a million different things all at once. But I challenge you, spend one week, truly getting dressed and ready. Even if you aren’t leaving the house, dress like you would be going out for dinner with your girlfriends. Watch how quickly your confidence is boosted, how quickly your productivity increases, and how much happier internally you feel. Hashtag your daily outfits with #dressingforoneweek. Let’s motivate one another in embracing and celebrating our individual styles!
