Fashion

I am not a fashionista. Ok, stop right there. Let’s first define what is fashion and what makes someone a fashionista.

What is fashion

I’m sure there are as many answers as there are people. What you’re about to read is my opinion and nothing more then that. I’m no expert.

For me, words that come to mind when I think about fashion are:

• clothes
• designers
• trends
• style
• #OOTD
• haute couture
• prêt-à-porter
• commerce
• marketing
• street style
• catwalk
• media
• fashion bloggers

So what makes someone a fashionista

Again: just my personal opinion.

It is someone for whom fashion, clothes and the way they look is of great importance. It is something they put a lot of thought in, as well as effort, time, and -sometimes- money.

For me, the ‘giving it a lot of thought’ part may be the most defining one. Let me explain what I mean.

Why I’m not a fashionista

I definitely love clothes. I have my own style and make an effort to look pretty. I already wrote about my style and taste, and about the key elements of that style.

My style is pretty consistent, although I cannot claim to be 100% untouched by trends. I dress the way I am on the inside; colorful, soft, feminine, flowy, floral and more is more. There is no ‘plan’ behind it. No strategy. It’s pretty impulsive, improvised and quick.

I don’t care about brands. Nor about trends, really. I can get inspired by accidentally coming across a -probably eccentric- person, be it IRL or online. But I don’t go looking for inspiration, for role models (fashion-wise) or trends, by following fashion blogs or reading fashion glossies.

I guess my fashion credo is a simplistic one: “Let’s put on something colorful and happy today. Something that not only makes me happy, but that may bring some joy and diversion to those who lay eyes on me that day as well. Something that brightens up the streets in a very modest microlevel way.” (Inside me lives a far more eccentric and daring person, but I hold back enormously. Scaredy cat. Boo.)

Color. Happy. Flattering. That’s about it. I will look in the mirror and go: “Oh, that looks stupid or ugly. Let’s try something else. Better? Hm, this makes me look fat. This then? Ok, that’s good (enough).” That will (have to) do then, for the rest of that day.

So there it is; that’s the difference between me and a fashionista: I don’t give it too much thought. I would find it hard to verbalize my choices. Fashionista’s can not only talk about it, they can write whole blogposts about it, again and again. Mind you, it’s not my intention to insult anybody. My best friends are fashion bloggers, seriously! I’m just not one of them, in that aspect.

#OOTD

Being friends with several fashion bloggers, I regularly accompany them for photoshoots (from them, for their blogs, but while we’re at it, they often shoot me too), to fashion shows and media events. I always enjoy that tremendously! That’s why fashion does play a modest role in my life and on this blog.

Having -more or less accidentally- nice pictures of myself and my outfits, I don’t want them to ‘go to waste’. So I have fun in posting an #OOTD (Outfit of the Day) every once in a while.

And to blog about fashion events I went to. Often the audience and what they wear is more entertaining then the actual fashion show. There is quite some eccentricity to be seen at those events and I’m all for that!

Type in Fashion or #OOTD in the search box in the right sidebar on the blog and all relevant posts will pop up.