We’ve all been victims of poor fashion sense.  Not just looking bad, but actually feeling self-conscious and awkward in whatever fashion we’ve chosen to wear.  In fact, we may have looked fantastic, but didn’t feel comfortable. 

This comfort level will carry over to our daily lives and affect everything we do.

Having a fashion “sense” is having that sense, that inner gut feeling, of what really feels good to wear.  Whether it’s leather pants or a fleece, your clothes should feel good on your skin and in your soul.

Whatever style you choose, it should make you feel confident, not self conscious.  Trends can be both wonderful and catastrophic.  Keep in mind that the fashion world is a business, and, like any other industry, they continually have to put new items on the market.  This does not mean you need to purchase said items.  Not every fashion or trend was made or designed to look good on every body.  In fact, a lot of designs are meant to look good on one of two figures:  the size 0 model or the hanger.  Fashion is an art and fashion designs are wearable art. 

Everytime you dress you say something about yourself.  Even if you reject the idea of fashion, and dress in sweatpants everyday, that says something about you.  Whether you like it or not, people will judge you based on what you look like.  We all judge people based on their appearance.  Think about it:  Someone walks into a room and, without even speaking, you’ve already determined what they are like based on their age, gender, clothing, and how they walk or move.  It takes a split second. 

The problem with trends is that people tend to like them simply because they are trends.  It’s a marketing strategy known as the bandwagon approach in which consumers are persuaded to like a product simply because everyone else likes it.  It’s new!  It’s different! 

Soon something else will come around that’s new and different and the trendy clothes, shoes or bags you bought only a few months prior will be out of style, out of fashion, and can no longer be considered part of the new look.  If following trends is part of who you are, great, as long as you are honest with yourself. 

Honesty is part of confidence and looking confident is key to any relationship, whether you are constantly networking, socializing, or simply trying to buy a good cup of coffee.  People respond to confidence and being honest with yourself is part of the key to self-confidence. 

This honesty also plays a key role in determining what fashions you should choose to wear.  If you are honest with your likes and dislikes, you’ll find clothes and bags that match your personality.  If your accessories and your fashion match your personality, you will feel good when you wear them and, as a result, feel more confident. 

Monitor how you feel when you walk into a store.  Listen to yourself.  Do you feel like you “should” buy something just because it’s in style?  Do you love the way something looks on a hanger but don’t love it on you?  You should love the way you look in clothes.  Try on lots of things and listen to how you feel while you’re wearing them. 

There are thousands of styles of clothes out there and you’re bound to find exactly the right style for you.  Create it!  Feel it!  Combine different looks to develop your own style.  You’ll know it’s right when it feels good.  You’ll start to glow and radiate energy when you feel good in your clothes…so find them. 

Peer pressure is part of life.  If someone tells you that you don’t look good in your favorite style jeans, by all means, try something else, but stay honest with yourself.  Trying new styles is great because you can elaborate on your own fashions and build more elaborate collections and combinations.  But don’t buy something simply because someone told you to purchase it.  Like it and love it!  (not to mention if you like your clothes, you’re more likely to wear them)  Don’t purchase the skinny jeans simply because they are trendy (really, they look good on very, very few people), buy the bootcut jeans you love to wear – it shows!

Once you find your style, you’ll also realize that it will never go out of style, simply because it is yours.  Let your individuality shine through! 

Let loose and love your clothes!  Dress with honesty!!