Fashion Focus

 I used to have a fashion blog. All the other blogs I had in the past had some sort of inspiration and relevancy to style and fashion. Those times were in my early 20's when I loved putting together outfits, went on too many thrift shopping sprees and probably had too many clothes. I loved receiving the J. Crew magazines in the mail (I didn't subscribe to it but maybe one of my siblings did, so we kept receiving it), and looking through. I would even rip out certain pages I liked and write over with a nice quote or make a list of 'summer goals' in black sharpie with the backdrop of a pretty picture for inspiration. 

I wouldn't say those days are completely over. I recently found one of those crinkled magazine pictures with the quote I wrote over it, "Occupy your minds with good thoughts." And what a great reminder to keep coming back to. Although I don't have a fashion blog or share or write much about personal style here, I would still consider it an interest, even a hobby for me. Not regarding shopping as a hobby, but putting together an outfit, or finding pieces that work well together on a daily basis. I enjoy doing that, it comes naturally and is usually something I look forward to. But the emphasis in it all, the sheer focus of it for a blog has faded away. 

I feel it's also a form of growing more into my adult self. Sure, I enjoy shopping. And still on occasion to those thrift stores, but not with the same intensity or extremeness of spending a lot of money on a frequent basis or whimsical purchases like I used to. I think I've also become more practical (hopefully) in terms of style and purchasing items. I remember I used to buy a lot of random things that were more extravagant or impulse buys in which the clothes or items would have a rather short life span in my closet. I'm learning how to be better at that too and see how much I'm spending on myself versus on others, and/or doing for others in comparison. 

I think what also made me think of fashion and style was due to seeing a video from a catholic young woman who also writes and is into fashion, a stylist. I looked her up and saw that she has a blog dedicated to style. I loved her writing style. I appreciated and resonated with her honesty of the relationship between shopping on impulse and with cheap clothing, or more intentional buying or even shopping in your closet and coming up with new pieces. I want to try to do the latter more, as we usually have everything need to recreate new outfits and pieces than we initially thought. I was inspired from there. 

Her personal style is one of uniqueness and flair, bold and contrasting. I also appreciated how she sees fashion not so much as a shallow or materialistic thing but something meaningful, that goes hand in hand with our dignity, beauty and worth and coinciding it with St. John Paul II's teaching on the Theology of the Body. 

Nowadays, I find it important to dress when I look around and see a number of half-dressed, super casually dressed women, and I wonder where did the class and refinement go? Putting on an outfit showcases to others what your standards are, how you see yourself etc... It's like saying a mission statement without saying a word. I find it that more encouraging to dress well, intentionally and care for my personal style because in small and big ways, it speaks volumes in a world where femininity and feminine pieces are being threatened and confused, skin is in and casual dress wearing like pajamas is anywhere acceptable and trendy. 

Though fashion and style are no longer a big part of my blogging and writing, it's still something I care and think about. :)