Ugly Duckling Syndrome

Now that I'm in my 20's, I love fashion. But my first run in with it was bad. I was a tomboy. Not the cute, energetic, ponytail, baseball cap kind. No, I was the girl with boy’s t-shirts and baggy jeans. You know the type. The one who plays sports with the boys, wears grass stains and blood as badges of honor, and whose only friends are male. Now, in middle school it’s o.k., but at fourteen, you are expected to have grown out of it.

Mom tried desperately to get me into something stylish. I refused, adamantly. Until, the new guy came. It only took seeing Adonis reincarnated to make me want to look like, well, a girl. My mom took great delight in making me over from head to toe. The next day came, and it worked! He talked to me. But, bliss turned hellish the instant P.E. began. I had become just ‘another one of the girls’ overnight. Not one of my male friends knew what to do with me. Worse, trying to run in my oh-so-cute shoes was difficult and painful.

I realized then two of the most valuable lessons of fashion: that it is meant to be personalized, and shouldn‘t be done for someone else. It is not supposed to limit your actions, but augment your life. Wearing things you don‘t like for anyone is a bad plan! Never turn from a duckling into a swan, if you are meant to be a flamingo.

Well? What are you waiting for? Go match your wardrobe to you and your lifestyle! After all, you wouldn’t pair a Prada bag with tennis shoes. I hope.