The Beautiful Audacity of Dressing for Yourself

When did having personal style become so brave?

I have a question. When was the last time you wore something simply because you liked it? Not because it was trending, not because it was all over Pinterest, and certainly not because it belonged to an aesthetic with a very specific name.

Somewhere between the clean girl, the coquette girl, the old money aesthetic and whatever we're calling the next one, I think we've become a little too concerned with categorising ourselves.

And I find that rather amusing, considering fashion is supposed to be one of the most personal forms of self-expression.

Don't get me wrong. I love a good trend. I studied fashion, I follow the runway collections, and I can spend an unreasonable amount of time analysing why a particular silhouette or handbag has suddenly become desirable. But there's a difference between appreciating fashion and allowing the internet to decide your taste.

Take quiet luxury, for example. What began as an appreciation for understated dressing quickly became an aesthetic with its own unofficial uniform. Neutral colours, impeccable tailoring, minimal accessories. Beautiful? Absolutely. But since when did looking expensive become synonymous with having good style?

What's interesting is that fashion itself is beginning to move in a more expressive direction. We're seeing a renewed appetite for individuality, unexpected styling, interesting textures, and clothes that actually say something.

And frankly, I'm here for it.

One thing fashion school taught me is that style is as much about the choices you make as the things you choose not to wear. Understanding a trend doesn't mean you have to participate in it. In fact, knowing what doesn't work for you is perhaps just as important as knowing what does.

I've always found that women with a distinct sense of personal style are those who truly dress for themselves. The woman who wears her grandmother's jewellery with a contemporary outfit. The one who repeats her favourite pieces unapologetically. Or the one who wears something completely unexpected, simply because she likes the way it looks. Because personal style can evolve too, and we mustn't subject ourselves to the imaginary box we create for ourselves that such and such style is "me" and not dare to adorn something because of the fear of being "experimental".

There's a certain confidence in that. And it can't really be bought.

Of course, personal style isn't about rejecting trends altogether. It's about knowing yourself well enough to decide which ones deserve a place in your wardrobe.

So repeat that dress and buy the sneakers you've been daydreaming about but conflicted about too because they don't match your earlier aesthetic.

Because in a world that's constantly telling us what to wear next, perhaps the most stylish thing a woman can do is decide for herself.