I've been steadily working on my weight goals after the decline in health I experienced. This is an old photo of super skinny me. I have also been wearing this pink lace mini dress in several ways. I've worn the pink lace mini dress with semi-white pants and with lavender tutu skirt, shortly after a nasty incidence that affected my knee. 
If you've been reading this blog, you already know by now I've been reading the book A Woman's Guide to a Simpler Life by Andrea Van Steenhouse, PH.D. with Doris A. Fuller. We all want to be in control of something. Some people want to be in control of a business, some want to be in control of another person or persons…..me, I’ve always wanted to be in full control of myself; of my health, my emotions, my finances and my personal growth, it is for this singular quest to control myself that I spent my entire teenage studying everything imaginable, but alas I lose control of myself from time to time. It is only human that I do. What did you spend your teenage doing? Gossiping?
I told you here that you already have your own unique personal style and I’m telling you today that this is so because your personal style stems strongly from your personal identity. This follows that if you want to effectively change or fine-tune your sense of style or personal fashion style you will need to understand the elements that make up your sense of identity. What does Sense of Identity mean?It means all the factors that make up who you are.
How does this Influence our Personal Fashion Style?
In relation to fashion and style, I will say that one’s personal fashion style hinges on the person’s identity based on:EconomyIndividualityFamily/GroupsEconomy:One’s economic position is a factor that determines what a person would purchase. If one would purchase stuff on a budget or at ‘designer-level’ depends on how much discretionary income one has. Hence one’s personal fashion style could be centered on through and through high-end pieces or budget pieces with a few classic high-end pieces saved up for or through and through core budget items.Individuality:Some people have strong internal definition of themselves. They are undiluted by associating with others. These people create their path and stand out from the crowd. Examples of such Nigerians with strong individuality are Denrele, Charly boy and Wole Soyinka.
The personal style of such persons defy conformity and remain unique; like Nice sang in Photocopy, o ko easy to imitate them.The challenge with having strong individuality is that you and your personal style ‘fail’ to fit into a group unless you’re talking of ‘The League of Extra Ordinary Gentlemen’.
Family/Groups:A lot of people define themselves by the family they come from or the group in which they belong. So, they abide by the dress sense, colors and approved ‘dress codes’ of their families/groups whenever they go shopping; it becomes ingrained (a part of them) and instinctive.If you belong to a group of persons who share the value of modest dressing, you will instinctively reach for ‘modest’ lengths and cuts.If you belong to a family who share cultural values, you will reach for cultural attires a lot more.And, if you belonged to a group identified by a color, you will find a lot more of it in your wardrobe.
Can you see now that you already have your own unique, unparalleled sense of style? The question now is how to fine-tune or adapt it to changing trends and seasons.
