The Evolution of Style - Part 1
There always comes a time in your life when you look through photos of your past and you realise that so many things has changed. As we grow older and wiser we begin to perceive the world in a different light and hopefully become more accepting of everyone's differences. The most visual way to see our internal growth is not through just clothes alone, but through style. Style is the overall effect. It is the clothes, the hair, the accessories, how it's all put together, your body language and the way you carry yourself.I think my usual mid-teen years style had started evolving slightly after my 18th birthday, but it was until I came to Japan did it truly take shape. My experiences here haven't all been fun, and it certainly hasn't all been easy but as cliched as it sounds, I have never learnt so much in my life before. When you are pushed out of your comfort zone, without your friends, without your mother doting on your every need, with absolutely no one to turn to in a foreign country you find that you begin to learn more about yourself, other people and dare I say kizuna (sorry, inside joke for those who watched 24hr TV program in Japan).
My style has always reflected the person I want to be. During my girl child years I was desperate to look older than I was because it was "cool" to be asked if you were 15 when you were really 12. As a grew a little older and I was in my mid-teens, high school pressure had left me in the deep end of the swimming pool with rocks in my pocket. I began to miss my childhood years, the days without responsibility or the need to worry about my future. And so 15 became the social stage, 16 was the rebellion stage and 17 was the nostalgia stage. I dressed young, teeny bopper, pop, whatever you like to call it. It was the style in which girls on myspace have I*heart*Dior and I*heart*LV little banners all over their site. I had spent thoudsands of dollars on designer bags, wallets and accessories (but not clothes, that's the difference between a girl and a woman), just to fit into the mould of this young, superficial, materialistic and proud of it image. On the 3rd of July 2005, the date which marked my birth as an adult I decided to grow up and away from my self pity, so slowly but steadily my attidude as well as my style began to evolve.
Fastforward to the 31st of March 2006 where I was standing in Sydney Airport waving good bye to the people I loved the most in this world. I was wearing a black silk cardigan over a black tank top, Victoria Beckham for Rock and Republic jeans, a brown belt mother bought on a trip to Moscow in her 20's, black kitten heeled sandals and a brown Balenciaga Motorcycle De Lix bag. In September 2006 I am so much more accepting and willing to try out of different styles. There is no longer a particular mould I want to conform to. Now it's all about having fun and feeling beautiful. When I step back into that Sydney Airport in January next year, I hope that I would have flouished into a real woman (haha) and I wonder what I would be wearing then?
I know this blog entry is leaning towards the serious side rather than my ususal sarcastic entries, so I will post up a few photos from my mid-teen years. Some of the outfits aren't that bad while others would make Coco Chanel turn in her grave. So let's have a good laugh at my expense. And in true fashion blogging style I cropped my face. Shall we begin?
I thought I should start of with an alright outfit. This was on one of the cooler days in the summer holidays of 17. I don't remember where I was going, probably just to meet friends for coffee or lunch in a local cafe. I wouldn't have dressed so casual if I was going shopping. I also have my water bottle with me. Two things I carry with me at ALL times is my water bottle and ketai... I mean cell phone =P
Top: Black camisole and FUBU jacket.
Bottom: Abercrombie & Fitch denim mini.
Accessories: Open heart Tiffany & Co. necklace, longer necklace from Diva and the bag from a shop in Shibuya 109.
Shoes: Pink Playboy thongs/flip flops.
I think I'll probably still wear this dress someday. I think it's perfect for a summer day barbeque or picnic. However I would change the shoes and hairstyle (not that you can see the hairstyle XD). This was taken in the summer of 17.
Dress: Revive
Accessories: Large heart necklace from the markets in Beijing, silver Guess? watch and a black Gucci purse.
Shoes: Black heels from ? (no idea).
Hahaha, well to give me a little credit this was for a party themed Preppy High School Boys & Girls in the Spring of 16, but I DID wear this outfit on the train, and then around the city later on (much to the amusement of fellow Sydneysiders I suppose).
Top: White shirt from Dylan Sanders and pink vest from Ralph Lauren Polo.
Bottom: Denim skirt from Tightrope, it was $15.
Accessories: Return to Tiffany heart tag braclet from Tiffany & Co. and I can't see what necklace I'm wearing.
Shoes and Socks: Baggy school girl socks from Shibuya 109 and DADA sneakers.
I didn't crop my head because the hat is part of the outfit. The character on my face says kao, which means "face" in Japanese. The red patch and character on my arm says saiaku (or zui wu in Chinese) which literally means, "the worst". This is became I'm carrying a fake designer bag *hushhush* which is wrong wrong wrong! Taken in the Autumn of 17.
Top: Black tank top and white top from a chain store in Bondi Westfield.
Bottom: Diesel flare jeans.
Accessories: Beret from Myer and a bad bad bag.
Shoes: Pointy pearl kitten heels from Tokyo.
I don't know what to say about this outfit except that it's very Popteen magazine style. I remember very clearly that this was the winter of 17 because I was freezing my ass off wearing this out.
Top: Black knit from Shanghai.
Bottom: White skirt from a chain store, Glassons is my best bet.
Accessories: Silver Chanel necklace.
Shoes: Black boots from a Sydney based designer who's name I have forgotten. I just remember it was a female and her boutique is/was in The Strand.
Come back in a day or so for Part 2, as I spill out the rest of my soul and dish out more photos from the years of social, rebellion and nostalgia.
Labels: Fashion, Teenage Angst
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