2023 Fall Fashion

Let's talk about style and how you can find yours at a young age. You're told by everyone and everything what fashion should look like, from Disney Channel transformations to the latest TikTok trend, and probably at some point you feel like everything you wear is just wrong. We've all been there, but get ready for your fashion puberty because this video is going to change the way you think about your style.

The first step to the fashion world is knowing what your dream aesthetic is. A lot of times, people just have a general idea of what they want, but they can't verbalize it or point out why they like it. That's where the mood board comes in. Yes, it's tedious, but you feel like you're in fourth-grade art class again, and it's helpful to organize your inspiration and just lay it all out in front of you. For this mood board, collect everything from your dream clothing, accessories, hair, makeup, bags, shoes, and everything else that makes up the physical appearance of someone and dump it on a piece of paper. You can do this digitally or make an activity out of it and scrapbook it.

The next step is to point out exactly what you like about the inspiration you chose. Do you like this picture because of the blazer, or do you like the way she styled the socks, or maybe you like the statement coat? Make a list of everything you like about this style. It's important to know the specifics of a style rather than just the overall vibe; that way, you know what exact aspects you like about the style and how you can improve your wardrobe.

Now it's time to analyze your current closet. If you're struggling to figure out what you like or don't like, I suggest looking at these five closet essentials everyone has.

• First up, we have jeans. You know they're trustworthy and reliable, and they get the job done. Ask yourself, do you like low-waisted or high-waisted jeans? Dark wash or light wash? By narrowing down your preferences, you're also able to find your style. Or maybe you don't like jeans at all and just want to wear trousers.

• Next is your t-shirt. Do you like your t-shirts to be minimalist or patterned? Colored, or black and white? Maybe you're a fan of crop tops and really like showing your stomach, or maybe you're just on the more conservative side and want to be covered. If t-shirts are too boring, try out collars. Everything from a collared shirt to a turtleneck should do the trick.

• Jackets are where you can have a bit of fun. With outerwear, it's important to know if you prefer fashion or function. Like, if it's 20 degrees outside, are you going to be wearing a puffer jacket or a blazer in the name of fashion? Also, I think that jackets are especially important if you're living in colder places because that's basically what everyone else is going to see, so that determines what your aesthetic and style are.

• Now for shoes, do you like heels or sneakers? If you like sneakers, are you more of a streetwear person with Nike dunks or a Eurasia hoe with New Balance 550s? I feel like you can play around with different silhouettes of shoes and customize them to your style.

• Last are accessories. Do you like bulky or dainty jewelry? Some people use accessories to complete their looks, while others use them to just amplify them.

After you decide on a new style, it's time to utilize your current wardrobe. This is where most people go wrong. Usually, when you finally decide on a new style, you just want to throw everything out and start over. Okay, yeah, it's fun to purge every once in a while, but there's no need to do it every time you want to experiment with a new style. Usually, you already have 90% of what you need. So my first tip is to get a clothing rack. It will be the best investment of your life. Getting a clothing rack is so important because your closet is probably a mess, and when you look at it, it just doesn't spark joy; instead, it can spark stress and contemplation on why life is such a mess. So you're going to analyze the list you made and try to find pieces you already own. Then you're going to take those pieces and hang them on the clothing rack. In a way, your clothing rack is like your physical mood board. When you pick out your pieces, you can see if the colors go well together and what you're missing. Your clothing rack should make you excited and happy.

My next tip is to modify outfits from your inspiration to fit you, even if you don't necessarily have all the pieces for an outfit you like. You can still recreate the essence with what you already have.

Another tip is to turn styling outfits into a game. If you get bored with your wardrobe, you can set themes or challenges for yourself. For example, you can try to dress more preppy one day or dress like a character from a TV show by giving yourself a prompt for the day. It will force you to be more creative, and you can have some guidelines rather than being overwhelmed with endless options. These things may seem small, but they play a big part in changing your style. Revamping these small things can make you feel like a new person. If you're going for a girly aesthetic, try a sweeter scent. There are a lot of different little things you can do to improve your style with things you already have.

The most important thing, even more than buying a clothing rack, to finding your style is having confidence. If you don't have confidence, you're never going to find your style because you're never going to feel good about what you're wearing and you’re never going to feel true to yourself. The most important thing is that, as long as you're happy, that's all that matters.