With every New Year, there come 365 new days—365 new chances for making a fashion statement. Three-hundred and sixty-five new days for confronting the world with an identity crafted by the precise tailoring of a skirt, by the unusual color of a blouse. For the year 2013, a year some people never imagined we would reach, I have made five resolutions that I intend to honor. My five resolutions focus on the ways I have worn clothing and the possibility for re-inventing certain elements of my style.
- Expand my color palette beyond a shade.
- Embrace at least one new texture: velvet.
- Try a T-Shirt.
- Go vintage without looking too far.
- Abide by the motto: “I am what I wear.”
Expand my color palette beyond a shade. Whenever someone asks me about my favorite color, I always say black, an answer that would quickly be followed by a snarky comment, such as “Black is not a color. It’s a shade.” While I still maintain that black is and probably always will be my color of choice, I have noticed that my wardrobe has a redundant number of black dresses, shirts, and boots. To celebrate the New Year, I want to expand my color palette beyond black and indulge in some unexpected colors.
Papaya Vionnet Gown
Bordeux Dress
Images courtesy of http://www.shopbop.com
White-Gold Dress
Image courtesy of http://www.lulus.com
Embrace at least one new texture: velvet. I’ve always played it safe when it comes to textures, and when I venture into new territories, I tend to choose the safer options. However, I’ve always wondered if velvet, which I usually associate with frumpy, less modern styles, can become new for me. After scouring the Internet, I’ve found that the best velvet looks are ones that emphasize the romance of velvet and downplay the formal nature of the texture, like this burgundy velvet dress and J.Crew t-shirt.
Mink Pink Snow Palace Cutout Burgundy Velvet Dress
Image courtesy of http://www.lulus.com
Image courtesy of http://www.jcrew.com
Speaking of t-shirts, I’ve decided that for my third resolution, I am going to try a t-shirt. Aside from the gym and the airplane, I refrain from wearing t-shirts in public. I suppose they always seem so basic and boring to me. And if I do wear a t-shirt, I’ve usually added two or three layers on top of the initial garment. This year, however, I want to try wearing a t-shirt and letting it speak for itself. I’ve recently found some t-shirts that express both my inner book-nerd and love for Game of Thrones.
Images courtesy of http://www.threadless.com
Go vintage without looking too far. By vintage, I mean old, and by old, I mean the past three or four years. Recently, a friend of mine pointed out a dress that I hadn’t worn in at least two years. Paired with some cowboy boots and a necklace, the dress became a new look. Instead of buying a whole new wardrobe, I’ve decided to re-asses what I never wear and create new looks from my old apparel.
Abide by the motto: “I am what I wear.” After attending UNC’s fall sustainable fashion show, I’ve been thinking more pointedly about the ways in which my clothes are made. I’ve started to search for sustainable or environmentally friendly clothing stores in the area that don’t sacrifice style for a conscious soul. I came upon a small store in Brightleaf, Durham, named vert &vogue, and I immediately fell in love with their super-chic, environmentally friendly clothing.
Images courtesy of http://www.vertandvogue.com/index.php
Now that I’ve made my New Years fashion resolution, what are yours? They don’t have to be drastic resolutions, and some of the fashion elements can already exist in your wardrobe. Just think about the concept of re-shaping your style for all the days left in 2013.
