Sugar Blaze

As I mentioned yesterday, I’ve been taking daily outfit pictures to learn more about my clothes and how they work together and on me. I began photographing myself just this year, and I’ve used My Style Diary to share my daily outfits with others. Noticing that a lot of the users are into expensive designer clothing and/or wear gray and black religiously, at first, I felt as if I didn’t fit in there.

However, since posting my outfits, I’ve received several messages from other users saying that they love my style, and when I click on their profiles, I see that most of them dress nothing like me. They can afford things I cannot (well, not if I want a full closet, that is), and they don’t appear to own much from secondhand places like Salvation Army or cheap mall shops like Wet Seal. Yet, they are complimenting me on my style, saying things like, “You’re terrific at mixing colors!” while their profiles show that most everything they own is black.

When it comes to how I dress, I have never been one to try and fit in with a crowd. Many of my friends live in beige and brown, colors I would feel drab and boring in. I am often surrounded by people in t-shirts and sneakers, things I barely own (one of each) and would only ever wear to the gym. Never has any of that altered the way I dress. I feel standing out is a good thing, and my style has always garnished admiration from others, so I can’t be the only person who thinks so.

Feeling like a misfit, yet loving the very aspects of myself that make me one, has taught me a valuable lesson: people don’t have to be like you to love you. When you are unique in personality and pleasant to be around, others will appreciate you for who you are, regardless of how different you are from them. No one wants a rounded up pool of carbon copy friends, and if My Style Diary showcased only black designer clothing, it would be a very boring place.

I now post my outfits there with the certainty that while they won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, they will be hits with those looking for something different, something refreshing, and something that won’t break the bank. I also like to think that when other Forever 21-loving clothes addicts come along, they won’t feel out of place amongst all the Stella McCartney and Marc Jacobs frocks. Inspiring others is reason enough for me to continue posting there.

If any of you are using the site, let me know. I’d love to check out your profile!