Four years ago I started college, a young naive girl who just wanted to be accepted. I walked onto Auburn's campus in Nike shorts and a t-shirt that may as well have been a dress. Doesn't seem very "on brand" for me does it? Don't believe me? Take a good long look.
When I started all I wanted to do was fit in, so I dressed like everyone else on campus. I tried to add my own flair with making sure the Nike shorts and shirts matched and sometimes adding a matching scrunchie or hat, but it wasn't me. I slowly started to realize I wasn't quite as comfortable in my own skin as I once was.
I wore a uniform to school every day for 12 years how did I not take full advantage of the opportunity college gave me. For the first time in 12 years, I could wear whatever I wanted and I was really going to go with nikes and a t-shirt. In the first semester of college, I slowly started to dress up and really feel like myself two days a week. When the second semester rolled around I was confident enough to dress how I wanted regardless of what anyone else thought, and trust me plenty of people had thoughts.
One of my best friends told me that when she first saw me dressed up every day she thought I was just a snotty brat. While some may say that is still an accurate statement, she later said she was wrong and I was actually pretty cool. We lived together the next year so I appreciate that Lyd.
Some people say I hide behind my clothes, some laugh, some just stare, but that's their opinion. I feel comforted by the clothes I wear, I feel confident, I feel like myself. For me, getting ready is like an adventure. Going through color combinations for the outfit, picking out my shoes, matching earrings, sunglasses and purses is an experience to me. The same reason I love carrying crazy purses, it brings a certain level of joy to my life.
I've been working at my dad's office wearing scrubs every day for months now. I still wear funky earrings and headbands, but I was just in a huge funk because I still just dint feel like myself. When we went to the beach for a week I got to bring out all my colorful outfits and for the first time, I looked in the mirror and saw myself again.
Hailee Steinfeld wrote a song called some girls and I think it sums my point up beautifully:
Some girls, feel best in their tiny dresses Some girls, nothin' but sweatpants, looking like a princess Some girls, kiss new lips every single night They're stayin' out late 'cause they just celebrating life
You know some days you feel so good in your own skin But it's okay if you wanna change the body that you came in 'Cause you look greatest when you feel like a damn queen We're all just playing a game in a way, trying to win at life
Here's the thing. Who cares what you wear. Who cares if you wear 10 pounds of makeup or not. If you are happy, feel confident, comfortable and like a DAMN queen then you're winning. Don't let anyone take that away from you.
NEVER apologize for being yourself. Dress how you want, do what you want, and be an absolute boss doing it.
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