Are you Fashionable or Materialistic?

The distinction is important because there's a subculture of people who use these platforms specifically to express materialism and push the idea to the general public that what brand you wear determines if you're fashionable or not when true fashionistas often thrift shop and focus less on the designer but more on the overall look of the fit.

You can have on a million bucks and still be in an ugly outfit.

Fashion is self-expression while materialism is a collection of designer items based on present trends and it's basically catching the joneses. . . A.k.a Basic.

The Devil's in the details.

When getting dressed the fashion forward individual will carefully select pieces based on the event, atmosphere/vibe, and look/presentation they desire to give off to everyone else there about themselves. That's a slight but major contrast to wearing outfits as a way to separate yourself from others in a classist form. It's like materialism screams "you're not as good as me because I'm wearing $ $ $," while fashion screams in the words of the Queen RiRi, "she can beat me but she cannot beat my outfit."

It's said that when you open your mouth you tell everyone who you are but the same can be said when you step into the room.

Are you comfortable in your clothes or is it a monkey suit that doesn't feel authentic to you? Some clothes are not cozy by deign but do you feel good in it? Fashionable individuals are comfortable in their skin/style, after all they curated it through some process of self-reflection or Pinterest boards. That's what gives them an air of confidence, they are comfortable in their own skin!

Something that is working for me right now as I am building the wardrobe of my dreams is following influencers with my ideal lifestyle/vibe/wardrobe, creating Pinterest boards, and figuring out my favorite colors to wear. I really feel like our subconscious plays a huge role in the way we speak, dress, and present ourselves. . so if you monitor the fashion content you take in via socials, or wherever you're getting that info, then you'll start to pick up pieces without even thinking in your favorite "aesthetic."

Even if you don't care about fashion and are just reading this out of curiosity. . you're still buying pieces to match the aesthetic of someone who doesn't care about what they wear or whatever the people around you/on your feed are wearing. . subconsciously. Which is so funny because like that iconic scene in the Devil Wear's Prada, you're serving your aesthetic of not caring seamlessly lol and people are still making billions off of it.

Still. . . I want to argue that humans do not just have one vibe/aesthetic and that we should all be having fun with our wardrobes and taking risks with bolder statement pieces!

It's more than likely though that the majority of the time, like a cartoon character, you have a main look. Nothing is wrong with that! Having a type of uniform is something that is common in French fashion schools, (it's actually not even looked down to wear the same items over again!), and having a type of look you can go back to time and time again while you figure out your style is key to elevating your look since you can throw that on mindlessly.

Steve Jobs wore the same thing everyday because it was mindless for him. He didn't have to exert any extra energy to choose his favorite fit and while that doesn't work for me it could work for someone who doesn't want to put much effort into dressing nice. No shade.

Chasing trends doesn't make you materialistic and not fashionable, that's fashion forward, it's when you're buying the same things your neighbors have to impress your neighbors or those who are following you for clout! That is when you're no longer living a fashionable lifestyle for yourself but others and falling into the trap of materialism. . . Trap being the key word there, it is a slippery slope/ addictive lifestyle.

You're only on this planet for a limited time, what do you want to say, who are you at your core? You are love <3 , for sure, but why not have a little more fun with your wardrobe and instead of doing what everyone else is doing, do something self-expressive and unique to represent you.

Don't forget that whatever you wear will become you're uniform when you die like a ghost lol. Choose wisely ;) Just kidding, I don't know if that's true. Probably not but kinda funny to think about lol!

But thanks for reading and really please reflect on this idea of fashion vs. materialism, because in today's world we need to start looking at fashion from a fashionable perspective vs. accepting what is so damaging to this planet and our mental health. . fast fashion & materialism.

xoxo ily bb! Now step on they necks!