As a PERSONAL style advocate and blogger, I tend to march to my own beat and wear things because I feel that they match my personality and body type rather than because they are trendy. I do, of course, try to incorporate fashion-forward items into my daily outfits, but there are some that I just cannot wrap my head around. For example, houndstooth is one of those prints that just doesn't do it for me. I've seen a lot of style bloggers work their magic on it and make it look good, but I have no intention of letting it grace my body anytime soon.
Animal print is one of those trends that to me is almost on the same level as houndstooth. I don't own that many animal print pieces, mostly because I find them too busy to integrate properly in most of the looks that I try to achieve. This coat is one of the very few animal prints I own, and definitely the most eccentric. I'm not sure why I decided it was a good purchase- maybe the coziness and softness, or maybe the fact that it feels luxe rather than kitsch. It's one of those items that I would expect myself to absolutely hate, but in reality I'm really into.
Maybe I'm not bold enough to try everything that the fashion world deems worthy... or maybe I'm just trying to remain faithful to myself in a world where it seems that everyone wears the same uniform. The Valentino studded heels (I'm guilty of that, just the cheap Rue 21 version), the Zara skort, the Celine bags, they all reappear time and time again. Maybe if I could afford that stuff, I would be wearing all of that, too. But for now, I just enjoy being budget-friendly, and hopefully even a bit different from the standard.
I'm never going to be a main risk taker, and I'm comfortable with that. To me, clothing is about properly representing myself and channeling my daily moods. And I hope that it is exactly what I come across as doing.
Who would've thought that this cardigan (also featured here) could be so versatile? I purchased this piece at the Matador Mall, an outside marketplace that my school hosts every now and then, fully aware that it would be one of those pieces worn very rarely and only with a limited amount of outfits.
However, I stand corrected. I haven't even owned this piece for a month and it's already a go-to and surprisingly versatile. For this outfit, I just found it to be the perfect complement to the bright belt and camel-colored wedges, and an attention-grabbing, yet tame way of pulling together the entire outfit.