Define ‘Fashion’

I was always on the move growing up. But although I was always on the move, I never left the small towns. My elementary schools were in small towns, my middle/high school was in a small town, even my college was in a small town. The thing I love (and hate) the most about small towns is that everyone knows everyone. Granville, Ohio is an extremely small town. You may have heard about Granville in some articles about “the top 10 cutest towns you must visit.” Yes, Granville is a very cute town filled with people of all ages, but moving to a school like Granville can be a challenge. I moved to Granville in 6th grade. By 6th grade, everyone has their close friend group so moving there at that age was extremely hard for me – especially being the shy girl that I am. Fast forward six years to my senior year at Granville High School, I was still friends with the people I had met back in 6th grade. But looking back at those years, one thing that stands out to me was the fashion.

6th – 8th grade: Abercrombie/Aeropostale shirts, bermuda shorts, flare jeans, headbands, silly bandz. Every girl wore the exact same thing.

9th grade: light wash denim, tight shirts, v-necks, graphic shirts/tanks. Again, every girl looked the exact same.

10th grade: dark and distressed denim, crop tops, LEGGINGS BEGIN. (anyone else’s school try to protest against the legging-ban at school???)

11th/12th grade: crop tops still a thing, leggings still a thing, colored denim???, high waisted shorts/jeans begin.

Fast forward to college: leggings, oversized t-shirts/sweatshirts, athletic nike shorts, sneakers, birkenstocks – the usual class day attire.

No matter what year it was, the fashion changed, but yet each girl dressed the same. And yes, I am guilty of these looks, too. But growing up in a small town, this was all I knew. Yes, I should’ve kept up with the latest fashion magazines and started my own trends, but I was that shy girl, remember? To this day, I am still terrified to start my own trends because of how important appearances are. But to me, fashion isn’t about starting trends – that’s why we have models like Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid, amirite?! To me, fashion is a piece of art. YOU choose how you want others to perceive you on that given day. What story/emotion are you wanting to portray? There are days where I will rock distressed black jeans with a graphic tee and leather jacket as seen in the picture above, but I can also rock the most floral dress and wedges. And yes, you can catch me at the grocery store on a Sunday morning wearing leggings and an oversized tee – ITS FASHION! No, but really, fashion can be whatever you want it to be, just like art can be anything you want it to be. You have no limitations when it comes to fashion, so what’s holding you back? This is my promise to you all that I will have no limitations in my fashion, either. If I want to pull a Britney Spears and wear denim on denim, I’m going to ROCK that denim on denim and not care what others think. Because THAT’S fashion. There are no limitations.

Until next time…

Kenny xoxo