“Does this black match?” -Daria
Fashion is one of those things that has been around for a while—ever since clothes were a thing, really. Sometimes people wear band merchandise to show that they like that band. Others dress in bright, lively colors or in black and gray.
Fashion is one of those things that has been around for a while—ever since clothes were a thing, really. Sometimes people wear band merchandise to show that they like that band. Others dress in bright, lively colors or in black and gray.
Many teens use their wardrobe as a way to show how they feel. I know I do that sometimes. I just throw on some black leggings, a black shirt and black Vans and call it a day. Or, I’ll wear a cute wine-colored shirt with some mustard pants and be fine with it, but like I said, it all depends on how I feel.
While expressing yourself through fashion becomes harder when you enter the workplace and need to look professional or even wear a uniform, many professionals will use different accessories, shoes and sometimes even their hair to express themselves. I talked to Lali Armijo, a professional in the beauty industry, about how she uses fashion to express herself.
How do you meet professional work expectations while still having a little “you” in your outfit?
It's really just understanding the criteria of what is professional and what it means. I think that as you get into the working world, there are a lot of commonalities as to what professionalism is. I think it's also something you learn in school. I personally like to wear scarves, earrings, and any sort of jewelry and that to me is kind of a way I express myself while still making sure I’m meeting the professional criteria. That’s my way of spicing up a “boring” outfit.
How important is what you wear to you?
It's very important! I mean what you wear is what people see you in, right? Unfortunately, we live in a judgmental society, so being professional is a way in which people judge you in the workplace, so it has to be very important because you want people to take you seriously.
When did you really find an interest in fashion?
I’ve always had an interest; once you start working and you start getting paychecks and you learn how to budget you start to think, “Where can I buy clothes that aren’t too expensive but still look good?” From there, you start to mix and match outfits and it just becomes fun.
Does your mood ever affect what you wear?
Yes, for sure. I think that if I’m feeling energetic that morning and ready for work, I’ll definitely put more time and energy into that outfit. But if I’m running behind schedule or I’m stressed, then I’m definitely just going to throw something on and not necessarily not think what I’m going to wear.