Essential Question: How can I explain the importance of personal style in an eco-friendly manner while simultaneously experimenting with my own? 

While reading the introduction to Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion, I realized something: I was exactly like the writer Elizabeth L. Cline– I was an average American who, in that “I own more clothing than I [do] anything else” (Cline, 5). In fact, I too, like the average American probably bought 64 items per year (5). 

After reading this stat, I decided to go find all my materials — AKA clothes I don’t wear and clothes I wear almost every week to act as a staple item to add and boost an outfit. While going through my clothes, I found a dress I had never worn that I bought at Urban Outfitters in August. It was snake print and by looking online at OU’s dresses, was probably around $60. Although it was on the more expensive side of fast fashion, I never wore it. I remember buying it for a party and then deciding on was going to wear something else for that party. 

While going through my shirts, I found a staple black shirt I was going to use to compliment my other outfits. I didn’t have any more hangers though so conveniently, I put it under the snake dress, and immediately, I saw potential. 

The black shirt and snake print dress are much like many outfits I see online. It is okay to copy a trend if you actually like the trend, which in this case, I am in love with this trend. Moreover, I believe fashion is about personality; fashion is about having a conversation with the world. I wanted to add to this trend to give it a feeling that it was my personality. For me, that is essential. It’s not about looking different, it’s just about speaking my truth through my clothes. While I loved the look, it didn’t feel like speaking my own truth. For this reason, I added to the outfit. 

Here is the link where I found this outfit.        Here is my outfit. 

I first added a blue, gray and white striped collar-shirt which was a hammy down from my brother. I had it hang off the dress, tied at the waist (see photo to understand). 

I then added the pink scarf. I chose the scarf because I thought it complimented the blue in the collar-shirt. I deiced to have it be a belt. This scarf was bought for $2 at Purple Pencil in my elementary school PS6. Purple Pencil was a fundraiser for the school that happened every-so-often. They often sold cheap jewelry and kid’s toys, but at one point they also sold sparkly pink scarfs. My mom bought two at the time (one for me and one for my sister). Moreover, I originally rejected the scarf due to my hatred of pink and anything that could label me as too “girly”. At that time, I was only 6 years old. Now, 11 years later, and I love the scarf more than ever. It’s probably the second most worn item in my closet, after my crop top jean jacket. 

I then added my dad’s old hat. I love this hat, and I think it completes the look. 

I love this outfit because it has a personality. Not only does it feel like me, but it feels like me at this given time in my life. It communicates with the world as I creatively built off of a trend. By doing this, I made it a multidimensional outfit.

I give this outfit a 9/10. 

Here is the final look: