Have you ever noticed how something you initially thought was a bit questionable suddenly starts looking rather appealing once you've seen it EVERYWHERE?
Perhaps it's a particular style of jeans, a pair of shoes, a colour or a new trend that seems to have taken over Instagram.
At first, you're not convinced. Then you see someone looking fabulous in it. Then another person. And before you know it, you're wondering whether you need one too!
Sound familiar?
Well, today I wanted to explore a little question that I think is worth asking ourselves occasionally:
Do I genuinely love this, or do I just love that it's fashionable?
Why fashion can change what we love
The more we're exposed to something, the more familiar it becomes. And familiarity can make things feel increasingly attractive.
It's one of the reasons trends work so well!
And I don't necessarily think that's a bad thing.
In fact, I think fashion can be brilliant for helping us discover new things. A trend might introduce you to a colour combination you'd never considered, a silhouette you'd previously dismissed or a completely different way of wearing something you already own.
And sometimes, you genuinely DO fall in love with something because you've seen it styled in a new way.
The important thing is learning to recognise the difference between being inspired by fashion and feeling influenced by it.
A little question to ask yourself
The next time you find yourself really wanting something fashionable, try asking:
"If nobody else was wearing this, would I still want to?"
There's no right or wrong answer, but it's a useful starting point.
And if you're not quite sure, dig a little deeper:
What exactly do I love? Is it the item itself, or the way someone has styled it? Perhaps you're actually drawn to the colours, the proportions or the overall feeling of the outfit.
Can I picture it in my wardrobe? Not just as part of a beautifully styled Instagram outfit, but with the clothes you already own, doing the things you actually do.
Does it feel like me? Or do I feel like I need to adopt a completely different style to make it work?
You don't need to analyse every purchase to death! But even one of these questions can help you decide whether something deserves a place in your wardrobe.
Appreciating fashion versus knowing your style
Here's where I think things become particularly interesting.
As we become more confident with our personal style, we start to realise that we don't have to WANT everything we APPRECIATE.
You might absolutely love the way someone wears a particular trend, but recognise that it doesn't quite fit your own style or lifestyle.
And that's absolutely fine!
Equally, something you would never have considered a year ago might now feel completely right for you.
Our personal style isn't fixed. It changes as we discover new things, experiment and learn more about what makes us feel good.
The difference is that, over time, we can become more selective about which influences we invite into our wardrobes.
If you've been part of Joyfully Dressed for a while, you might find that the next stage of developing your style isn't about discovering more things you like, but getting better at recognising which things you truly love.
And I think that's quite a lovely place to get to.
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