Lessons

Hey everyone. Sorry I haven't been posting in a while; with finals and finishing projects I honestly haven't had much time. Anyway.
With my eminent Middle School graduation, I've been thinking a lot about how much I've changed over the past three years, and how much my style has evolved, too.

Which got me wondering, as seasons change and fads come and go, do we find ourselves changing with them?

Meanwhile, Charlotte was facing a problem of her own...
Just kidding.
Most of you won't even get that reference anyway. Whatever. Moving on!

Here are a couple of things I learned this year.
One.
To look good, you have to not only keep in mind what's in style, but also what looks good on you. Never buy things just because they're "in", you really have to keep in mind what looks good on your body and what colors flatter your skin tone. After what seemed like a lifetime in skinny jeans, last weekend I bought a pair of J.Brand bell bottoms. As soon as I put them on I was like, wow, these really look good. They gave me model-long legs, a butt (because I usually don't have one), and the flare at the bottom balanced the tightness around my knee area and I just looked skinny. I'm not saying to completely retire your skinny jeans, though. The moral to this story is that because I was wearing what everyone else was wearing and not taking into account my own body, I ended up looking over the jeans that looked the best.
Two.
More makeup isn't always better. When I was in 6th grade, I did absolutely nothing for my skin, and I ended up breaking out a lot. Then, in 7th grade, I was under the impression that more makeup = prettier. Now, in 8th grade, I realize that both of those philosophies are way wrong. Your skin is the first thing people see when they look at you, and therefore your most important asset. Take care of your skin, and treat it, don't cover it. If you know you are prone to breakouts, wearing heavy makeup daily can just irritate skin and clog pores, and your breakouts won't stop. I wash my face twice a day, morning and night, with toner, and use special things like silver powder for blackheads, masks, and glycolic serum if I feel a breakout coming on. I also use moisturizer every night, and non-oily sunblock during the day. If your skin is your best asset, it's your absolute best when you're our age, so why cover it underneath layers and layers of makeup? When I was getting my hair blown out for a party the other day, I saw this completely gorgeous girl getting hers done (probably around my age), but she was wearing so much makeup (eyeshadow, lipstick, lip liner, foundation) that she just looked funny. It makes you wonder what someone is hiding under all that makeup.
Three.
There's a time to listen to the people around you, and there's a time to not. If you want to wear a florescent yellow sweater with chains on the shoulders you do that; it completely doesn't matter what anyone says as long as you like the way you look in it. Now, this doesn't mean to completely clash with lesson number one. It's completely different. If you decide something's going to be your look, run with it, but remember to put in your own spin. If you are confident in what you wear and never let an outfit wear you, you can pull off anything you want. My biggest pet peeve is when people say things like "Oh, that's so cute, but I could never pull it off." Uh, yes, you can! Edith Head was the most in-demand stylist from the late thirties to early seventies, and she always knew how to dress a woman perfectly for the camera. But, when Audrey Hepburn came in, she insisted on wearing what she wanted. Her long, skinny figure was accentuated by Givenchy's sleek black ensembles, and her boyish look was made even more straight by the now-famous black dress, which didn't accentuate her waist at all. If Audrey Hepburn hadn't carried herself like she knew what she was doing, she might have looked hunched over and lanky in these types of clothes. But Sabrina won best the Oscar for best costume instead, and everyone stares in jealousy of the perfect LBD.
Four.
Heels can do wonders for a person, if worn in the proper context. They make your legs longer, your posture better, and your confidence higher. There are some problems that come with heels, ie. how to walk in them. If you can't walk in heels, don't bother. The absolute worst thing in the world is teetering around a party looking like you stole a pair of your mom's shoes (which I frequently do, but that's beside the point). Here's what I did: Heel Bootcamp. I wore this one pair of black peeptoe shoes around the house for what must have been close to a month. I walked down stairs in them, I did my homework in them, I went on the treadmill in them, I even fell asleep in them a couple of times. But now, guess what! I'm a foolproof stiletto walker. Besides the obvious party or dinner, heels during the day can be tricky. You're walking (excuse the pun) a fine line between good and trashy. So, here are a few rules to live by: no heels at the beach. Ever. The best heels to wear in the day are wedges, and not too high. Unless you're Snooki or my grandma, and in that case a couple more inches won't hurt you. Here's what I'm completely done with: anything black and chunky. I'm talking to you booties, platforms, and half of the Steve Madden inventory. My absolute favorite pair of shoes ever are these strappy raspberry colored suede wedges. But, normally, I stick to my gold and brown braided sandals with a little heel. Heels aren't for all the time - yet.
and Five.
People AND fashion change, and go through phases, but style is eternal. Confidence is key, and as long as you have that je ne sais quoi, everyone in a room will take notice. Don't dress to please others, dress to please yourself. Have fun with what you wear and never get stuck in a rut. We're young people, getting stuck in a rut is inexcusable. Don't settle for anything less than your best all the time.

You know, I've missed you guys. I'm going to post more often again.
I have this little necklace from Lucid NY with a little charm of a flying pig, so I will always remember that nothing is impossible.
Can't believe school is almost over!
XOXO
-A