Out of the 8.2 billion people on this planet, the chances of finding your doppelganger is about 0.11%. Still, even if you were to find your rare doppelganger, what are the chances you would act or even dress the same? The chances are much slimmer- why? Because everyone expresses themselves differently.
Fashion is widely known as a creative outlet for people to use in order to express themselves. Frida Kahlo used her knowledge of art and fashion as a way of embracing her disabilities through her choice of vibrant colors and prints. David Bowie combined his musical career with fashion through experimenting with various styles as a way of telling stories, as well as expressing his identity.
But celebrities are not the only ones who use fashion as self-expression – NVD students do too.
“Though I’m pretty quiet, I love standing out with my outfits. I get to showcase my personality in a way that feels authentic but still makes a statement,” junior Taylor Hary said.
Of course, everyone starts from somewhere. A person’s style can come from various places like a cute photo on Pinterest, a personal fashion icon, or even a picture of a family member from 20 years ago. For example, Hary derives her style from her love for streetwear.
“[Streetwear] has always felt authentic and versatile to me. A lot of my inspiration comes from Pinterest and a mix of influencers who bring fresh ideas and unique takes on the look. I like blending elements from different people to create something that feels true to me,” Hary said.
On the other hand, junior Helen James derives her inspiration from celebrities and personal style icons.
“Some of the celebrities I look up to are Avril Lavigne, Snooki, Lana del Rey when she was Lizzy Grant, and Nicole Richie. The influencers I admire are Caroline Ricke, Alex Consani, Chloe Forero, and a girl who goes by [the username] felinefamine on TikTok. They all have unique styles that match their personalities, and I love to see it,” James said.
Meanwhile, senior Prerana Thapa derives her style from her years of experimenting with her style and other artists.
“My inspiration and style come from the many years past. I don’t have one icon I took up for fashion. However, I [take] inspiration from artists and art. I like to listen to Lana Del Rey, who has the amazing ability to create a story through her songs,” Thapa said.
As a person’s style evolves, they begin to put their own touches on it.
“I liked one style and then another, and then many more—the way I can put outfits together with more ease now is because I have experimented with every outfit I wanted to, so I have a better knowledge of what suits me and what I like,” Thapa said.
Thapa also included a piece of advice for those who wish to explore their identity more.
“Wear that outfit outside. Don’t just keep the outfit you have in your mind locked up there. Experiment and find out what you really like. Wear what you feel and look the best in. If you are scared people will judge you—they, in fact, will judge you for it—you just have to get past that,” Thapa said.
Whether it means dressing in all black, or dressing in colorful patterns, what creates a unique sense of style is reflecting on who you truly are, and then finding a way to express that through handpicked pieces that you love and see yourself in.
James advises those who wish to begin their personal style journey to “Start making Pinterest boards and mood boards, and don’t separate the clothes by aesthetics; just put everything you like together. Don’t worry about having an overarching aesthetic or niche when it comes to your style, think about your outfits like they’re stand-alone episodes of a TV show where each episode is its own plot. A lot of times, good outfits are worn because you’re not limiting yourself to a certain style boundary.”
Although fashion is meant to be unique to each individual, a lot of judgment still exists towards those who may not dress conventionally.
“I don’t let criticism shake my style because it’s about expressing who I am, not what others think. Right now, I might not always dress exactly how I want due to life stuff, but my style is still mine. Staying true to what I like keeps me confident,” Hary said.
Now for the question of the hour: how does someone find their personal style? Many would agree the answer to that question is, be yourself – a cliche which everyone knows. Developing a unique style means people wearing what they feel most confident in. To James, her confidence comes from compliments from those she admires.
“I can always appreciate an outfit when I can tell there was thought put into it. A compliment from someone who has their own unapologetic style is like gold to me,” James said.
