It's An Art Form...

Everyday we wake up, roll out of bed, and let the morning air dart around us; persuading our eyes to take in the day. We head to the bathroom and go through the choreographed dance of our morning routine. And despite us all showcasing our individuality up to this point, we all choose something from the closet. Now, this could be anything, there is a wide array of styles, accessories, and occasions to dress for. We look through magazines, Pinterest, and Instagram - following our favorite designers, models, or others who inspire us. But, what is fashion? There are a lot of ways to answer that question. One can take many different avenues with fashion. It’s a whole world within itself. From the Dictionaries point of view, fashion is, “a popular trend, especially in styles of dress and ornament or manners of behavior.” That is a broad meaning of a word that encompasses so much. Is fashion art, does fashion have limits, and how is fashion evolving? There are so many questions that are friends with the word fashion. But, despite all the questions, quite often the answer is dependent on our definition of the word.

What We See Today

Fashion today is a collection of several decades dancing together along with an eclectic sprinkle of chaos and individuality. People always say that trends never truly fade, but evolve into another or an elevated version. The patterns, colors, and flares of the 60s and 70s tag the stores luring us to then follow suit. The mom jeans, claw clips, denim on denim, and loafers make their debut once again from the 80s and 90s. And as of last year, the development of regency attire has made its way back into circulation having corsets flood the world from red carpets to Target. Traditional corsets can be seen, but primarily, they have been used as a guideline for tops, dresses, and jumpsuits giving off a more silhouetted figure. One that has begun to add itself back into the conversation is the 2000s. Little did we know that they would make a comeback, but here we are with low-rise jeans, Juicy tracksuits, and dresses over pants. Like with any recirculation of fashion, it comes with upgrades. Its past fashion was redesigned to meet our modern standards. We have new pieces to replicate old styles that we thought we lost and pieces that are being found in thrift stores and the back of our parents' closets. Of course, each style has been filtered down from stylists of runways and celebrities. Giving inspiration to us who have less influence. An example is the scene from Devil Wears Prada where Meryl Streep is commenting on Anne Hathaway’s cerulean sweater.

Personal Taste

Personal preferences are everything. Also, location is everything. People dress depending on where they live. It’s simply practical, and why we see most high fashion people in cities where they can use themselves as a canvas, elevating the concrete jungles. Like our clothes, our location tends to be an extension of our personalities. Living on Kauai where the beach is a second home, bare feet are to be expected and required while entering a home, and the weather typically doesn’t hold hands with 60 degrees, there are not many experimenting beyond the aloha shirts and casual beach attire. Slippers (or as they are traditionally known on the mainland, flip flops) and sandals are the shoes of choice due to the practicality of the way of life in such an easy, breezy location. Those who live in more wilderness and outdoor states will typically find themselves most comfortable in athletic wear and Patagonia. Of course, without trying to stereotype, we typically tend to dress for our location or live in a location that allows our expression to be heard through what we wear. However, we all have our tastes. Some prefer the neutrals, typically presenting themselves in cozy wear. Some enjoy an edgy, grunge, and/or sharp way about themselves. Others embody activewear all-day every-day, a new spin of flashback styles, a more earthy linen wardrobe, others choose business casual, and there are always country classics or boho chic. Despite whether or not we follow fashion trends, we all have a personal style that defines us.

Hello Personal Style

I have struggled for years trying to identify my style. Gaining inspiration from different TV shows, Instagram photos, Pinterest, and pulling ideas from people moving about in my world. I never looked to the runways and models because, to me, their world seemed financially out of reach. Although fashion is an ever-changing field that has graced us with its presence for hundreds of years, I always became frustrated with not owning one particular style. I have always felt drawn to multiple conflicting forms of attire. But, the ones that present themselves the most have always been edgy business casual and 90s chick (the show Friends leaves me dreaming about clothes). The others that tend to grab my eye are the boho beach vibes like in the movie Mama Mia 2 worn by Lily James and the beautiful coastal linen style that is classic and whimsical. My closet may not express those feelings as vigorously as I would like, but my Pinterest board has me pining for a cheaper style. I simplify my wardrobe due to my location. As much as I love the style that catches my eye, island living holds a much simpler plan. To walk among the clouds in high heels brings me great joy, but I typically keep them retired in the closet while my second love of sneakers takes front and center. And although fashion is an enormous part of our lives and can be fun to follow one particular style, there is nothing wrong with dipping our toes in different fields. Having one particular style doesn’t define us. It’s about pulling out different sides of our creativity and personality. Along with that, it’s about finding clothes that make us feel comfortable and finding something that makes us feel good when we go out.

Never Ending Story

There are numerous avenues that one could take when in the multilayered world of fashion. Some think that fashion is only for a select few, some think it’s overrated, and some understand the way that clothes and accessories can express a personality through the art of fabrics, metals, and shoes. It’s painting a story through what we choose to wear. Fashion and styles are ever-evolving. Trends are almost impossible to follow yet the list of those who try it is extensive. And whether we follow trends or dress to our own drum, we should be eager to wear what we like with confidence. There is a balance between knowing something looks and feels good, and feeling out of place in something that is on trend. Simply because something is on trend doesn’t give a green light for everyone to dress that way. Clothes can be simple or they can be made into an extenuation of our expression.

There is a lot that can be said about fashion, trends, old and new styles, what should go in a capsule wardrobe, or who the top fashion icons are to watch. But, fashion is different for everyone. It can hold different meanings depending on the person. Fashion can be about taking unapologetic risks, wearing something because you love it, or it can be as simple as wearing something that makes you feel good. It’s finding the right medium and color pallet that suits you to create your work of art whether simple or complex. This post may not have answered all of the questions about fashion, but honestly, how can we define the world of fashion? I love hearing your suggestions for posts and trying my best to deliver my take on them, so leave a message of anything you would like to read about. Don’t forget to subscribe to be the first to receive new posts, follow The Allie-Way on Instagram, and share the blog with someone. Hope you had an amazing week. And thanks for reading Allie-Cats!

• Dru Allie