I came across an article in Flare magazine which narrowed my whole personal world and struggles to the art of personal style. A revelation came over me and summed up at least superficially what I have been going through and struggling with my entire twenties. I reflect back and know that it has taken years of experiences and travel and bad purchases to get to this point of having style. I also feel like I was fighting against the style norms of living in the prairies to come shining through. I mean you really have all the odds against you back in the prairies, I wish I could begin to tell you all the faux-pas’ occurring. I would sum up a prairie girl to have overly highlighted hair, overly fake tan, cheap bar star clothing and a million cheap handbags to go with it. I feel as though it’s an over compensation of being completely deprived of great clothing stores and escaping such small towns to see other fashion styles in other cities. I feel like I escaped that look whole-heartedly even though I know it had sucked me in around year 2000-2002 until I entered into the world of fashion, where fake tans and out-dated fashion trends were frowned upon. I learned very quickly you have to educate yourself on whats current, by magazines, websites and if you are lucky enough by travelling. An example would be the Tropezienne look (maxi dresses) that has finally reached the prairies to which at this point 5 years later looks completely stupid and too many bad versions have been created. I know this sounds snobby but it coincides with that anyone staying current would have already been there done that and moved on. It is very sad when a trend has to move on but it is for very good reasons, and it will most likely come back decades later.
Staying current not trendy can be very exhausting because you constantly have to be on the look out for whats hot and happening. I love when I am so far ahead of the game that certain pieces that have been bought will sit in a closet for a few months because I am not entirely sure how to wear it, but then its style and look is discovered and its like winning a jackpot as far as fashion goes!!! I found these D&G beige trouser pants at a boutique store in Winnipeg, “Swank” a great little store, that were so ahead of the game that they got marked down to nearly nothing and I snagged them and they sat in my closet for so long because they were out at the time but also really high fashion for Winnipeg. Well it turns out that they were back in and finally they were shown off in all their trendy glory.
Included in personal style would be things like fragrance to which I have a whole theory on how to go about this, that is art in-itself…I prefer to go to the South of France and have someone at a parfumerie sit down with me and show me all their fragrances that have to be exclusive to France. To which all the key notes must be explained and then tested. Usually once a few parfums have been narrowed down it is a must to walk around, go shopping and come back to see how the parfum has settled with my personal pH. And yes everyone has different pH’s especially fairer-skinned people, it changes dramatically for us. Once the parfum of the year has been discovered it is pure aromatic bliss for myself and for others. Now once upon a time choosing a parfum had been as simple as heading down to Shoppers Drug Mart and finding one that looked cool, was popular amidst peers and was relatively inexpensive. You can see how the art of personal style really evolves. It’s as though a wonderful back story and lead up has been created for something so simple and daily but yet can be romanticized and treasured.
I would like to also mention that reading materials, music, friends, restaurants, travel destinations and even computers all help to create your personal style. Just imagine how all of those things have evolved in your life to be where they are now. I know that my personal style is nowhere close to where its going to evolve and I am excited about discovering it further. Right now at this moment if you asked me about anything contributing to my personal style I would have a back story. Perhaps the art of personal style and its journey is very romanticized and brings some excitement even if for a moment in our lives.
Yves Saint Laurent
Fashions fade; style is eternal.
