I'm glad I waited until after high school to care.

I would never call myself a fashionista, although if you asked my mom and siblings, they would say otherwise. I'm the one who quote on quote 'overdresses' for casual events and wears popular fashion brands. If it's possible, considering all the women in the house are different styles with some overlap in sizes, my closet and jewelry stash are the first raided.

How different from when I was a kid, heh, how different from when I was a teenager.

As a child, I hated when I had to dress up. Dresses meant I couldn't run around and play like I wanted, which usually lead to grass stains and rips. But looking back, deep down, dresses reminded me how different I was from the other girls my age. Even those who were considered sporty liked dressing up more than I did.

Then came the body issues and puberty. Clothes became more of a shield; the baggier, the better. It got worse in high school, especially after a severe case of sexual harassment.

After I graduated, something shifted for me. Clothes were still a shield, but this is when I started "overdressing" and experimenting with jewelry. They gave me an air of confidence I didn't feel in my body, at least not yet.

After COVID is when I finally tapping more into the ideology of wearing clothes I felt beautiful and comfortable in. This meant learning more about what colors and styles were more flattering on my body shape. This along with a somewhat recent appreciation of my body has done wonders for my confidence and how I perceive my body.

Now, while this confidence would have been great to have in school, I'm glad I don't dress anywhere close to the way I dress now. I have my work uniform, yes, but otherwise I dress in clothes and styles that would have made me appear older and brought more unwanted attention. (I had enough of that with the way I dressed in school.)

Truly, I believe my fashion styles shifted to not only fit my needs, but also was an indication of my growth into adulthood.

So what are some lessons I've learned in regards to fashion?

1. Sometimes you have to be willing to go outside your comfort zone to find your style. For example, until recently, I fled at the sight of jumpsuits and rompers. (Well, not fled, but you get my drift.) I thought I wouldn't look great in time, but out of the blue, I tried one on and realized how wrong I was.

2. 2X and XXL are not the same. As a general rule, I straddle the line between regular and plus sizes, depending a number of factors (brand, material, etc.). Plus sizes are designed differently to accommodate those glorious curves and are sometimes made of a stretcher material. So if you are shopping IRL, don't assume, try it on. For online shoppers, look for a size guide and make sure you measure yourself according to the store's standards for the best fit. Also, look at the comments. Some will mention their weight and height, giving an idea of how it will fit on you.

3. You can afford "expensive" when you know where to look. In my closet, you will find a mix of brands, from Walmart brands to Calvin Klein. One of my favorite places to shop at is in thrift stores, where you can find a smorgasbord of fashion at prices you may never find anywhere else. If you find yourself limited on thrift shops where you live, I would recommend ThreadUp, an online thrift store. Plus, you can always sell your clothes through there as well.

4. You can wear any color you want, but some colors work better with certain skin tones. You may have already figured this out based on experience, but some colors clash or wash you out, while other flatter and even make you appear darker. Lookiero has a great article that explains this better then I ever could and also gives some color suggestions.

Now, I'm not a professional stylist or fashion blogger, just a woman who is learning and evolving when it comes to her fashion choices. But I know this is something I've struggled with and I'm sure others have as well. Plus, just like in number one, I'm going out of comfort zone a little when it comes to my writing.

I hope this is something you enjoyed and found helpful in some way.