May 2025
The Style & Aesthetic Limited Series
I have spent the last five years intentionally cultivating an aesthetic for myself. This is part survival (~gender~) and part a continuously growing investment in the feelings that you get when you align your vision with expression. The euphoria of a sleeve falling exactly where it should, or a color combination brightening your day. Being able to salvage your mental health because you won’t have to worry about insecurities or dysphoria. An appreciation of just how truly beautiful this world can be because you are so tapped into the feeling of art in the world.
This isn’t about appeasing some professional or societal bar for participation. It isn’t about being edgy or runway or staking your personality in what you wear. It isn’t about misconstrued feelings of shallowness that we link to any industry or motivation to be beautiful. It’s about aligning your vision of yourself in your mind with the things you wear on your body. That’s it.
As social beings, humans have a natural desire for expression. While this has been co-opted by corporations, the underlying need for an identity through our expression remains. Every time a texture, pattern, color, or silhouette has released those happy chemicals in your mind, you knew it was true. That’s the point of these posts, to give some structure and direction to take those one-off feelings and give them runway to your own aesthetic voice. Once this need is fulfilled, you will change as a person. It kind of feels like sitting up straight for the first time, normal in the moment and excruciatingly off putting when you finally figure out you were in the wrong position all along. Clothing can become a ritual rather than a chore. A talking point instead of a waste of money.
Over my time, if I have realized anything about viewing, trying on, purchasing, and wearing clothing, it’s that this process sucks. It can be so emotionally and financially devastating. That’s because the system of fashion is invested in making us feel like nothing fits right. It’s made to make that one shirt you like deteriorate after the third wash. They want us to feel ugly, fat, and dysphoric. They want us to buy more. They want us to throw it all away.
But, it’s worth it. I promise.
I say this as someone with a body type that is very frustrating to shop for, and an income that makes it difficult or impossible to invest in garments outside of the fast fashion world. Who has tried on hundreds of items, almost all of which ruined my day or week or month. Now, I have a permanent increase to daily happiness. Having worked through this process like a pitch black labyrinth, there are so many ways this process can be easier.
With that said, here are my contributions to the conversation on finding and owning your aesthetic:
Finding Your Aesthetic/Style