I hear this all the time on social media that people had a time when they faced an “identity crisis”. There are a number of TikToks with individuals explaining how they didn’t know whether to dress emo, girly, trendy, etc. back in high school and that they discovered their true selves after starting college. I didn’t realize that we had to pick and choose from a selection of identities that we had to fit into. Um…they should’ve just been themselves! And to change your fashion sense over time is also normal and totally up to you.
Let me start by explaining my personal identity. I’m all of the categories combined. No exaggeration. When it comes to the way I dress, I wear whatever I want, whenever I want. My main fashion identity is elegant and chic, and on the most random of days, I’ll dress in streetwear or all black. There will be days where I’ll be extremely girly with ruffles and floral prints and the next, in platform boots and body chains. I dress based on my mood and the fact that I see the beauty in every style. Does dressing differently change who I am and my principles? Of course, not! And to dress differently doesn’t make me radical. When it comes to my language, I have never met a person who speaks as cleanly and diplomatically as I do! Fashion doesn’t correlate to character either.
When someone discovers that I like anime, they throw things out of the water and call me a Weeb. When they find out I’m into K-pop, Korean dramas and that I really want to visit South Korea, they jump the gun and say I’m a Koreaboo. When a family member realizes my favorite headscarf color to wear is black, they call me emo. Why can’t a hobby, trait, interest or characteristic of mine be just a small piece of my identity? Why does it have to define my entire personality all of a sudden?
I believe you should be free to be whoever you want and do whatever you please as long as it’s not hurting anyone. Don’t try to fit the status quo if you find yourself naturally deviating from it. I also don’t believe in following culture 100%, because there are flaws in every culture.
I studied abroad in high school and only spent 12th grade in the U.S., but if I had gone to a typical, American public high school, I would have joined different clubs of contrasting interests, and I wouldn’t have cared what people thought.
Don’t try to fit into anything. Be you, especially when this generation is pushing for freedom of expression! Based on studies, ironically, being unique is attractive. I’m speaking to every age right now!
What are two things you are into that contrast each other?
The Elegant Woman 