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Alyssa
Welcome to Sustain this, a podcast where we discuss mindful consumption, personal style, and the quest for living a more intentional life. I'm Alyssa, a sustainable stylist.
Christina
And I'm Christina, a shopaholic turned minimalist.
Alyssa
Ish.
Sina
And I'm Sina, a color consultant and slow fashion style coach.
Alyssa
Together we will unpack the nuances of what it really means to be a conscious consumer and find more joy in what we have right now. So grab your tea, your coffee, or whatever floats your boat and join us in the conversation. Let's go.
Sina
Yay.
Alyssa
Yay. Hi, everybody. Welcome back to another episode. We have maybe a personal one for you today. Today we're talking about each of our style evolutions. I think we talk about this a lot. You know, as we age and we grow older and we become more mature and confident in our style, I don't know, does it change or does it stay the same because you, like, you get to know it more and. And you kind of repeat a little bit more as you get older? Anyway, today we're going to talk about that style evolution. And as always, feel free to share in the comments below. Always fun to hear sort of everyone's iterations and versions of themselves and how that translated in their style. So I don't know. Do either of you want to go first? How would your. How would you describe your style evolution if it was, like, maybe we go back, I don't know.
Sina
I'm.
Alyssa
I'm in my late 30s, so maybe, like, if we go back, I don't know, all the way to the beginning, maybe even when we were kids. Like, how early. What are your earliest fashion memories? Like, when you started dressing yourself, like, what decisions were you making? What did you want to look like? Do you remember that?
Sina
I feel like high school is always a great starting point, at least for me, because I feel like that's where I moved away from home and you start managing your own money entirely and what you spend your money on, what kind of clothes you buy. So for me, that's a really. At least that's what I remember most is when I moved away from home when I was 18 and I was going in high school. And also because you're more experimental at that point in your life, like, you experiment, at least I was. I can't speak for everyone, but I was. I was very experimental at that.
Alyssa
Like, what was your wildest experimentation phase, would you say?
Sina
Like, I mean, yeah, I had a music as one of my majors, so it was a lot of creatives in the class that I was in, like, it was a very small, intimate class. We weren't a lot of people in taking that class. So easy to get influenced by each other, I think, when you're a smaller group. So I was very like. I definitely had like an emo phase where I had like a lip ring and same like it piercing, like, you know, and I don't know, it's. And now looking back, I think I was just trying to kind of fit in and kind of. I had a crush on someone from my. From that same class as well. I think basically I was just trying to impress him maybe. I don't know.
Alyssa
Wait, you got a piercing to impress a guy?
Sina
No, no, no. Not the piercing, but just generally, you know, if you did, that's okay.
Alyssa
But like, that is so. You are just so, so. I love how like, cool you guys are with your piercings and like, oh, my God, like, that would be. I'd have to like work myself up for three years before doing that.
Sina
It's happening. I don't know. Yeah, I definitely had a face where I wore like, you know, bad T shirts and. Yeah. Kind of a. I wouldn't say full out emo because I didn't dye my hair purple or anything, but I. Yeah, I. I definitely had a face then. Yeah.
Unnamed Speaker
Yeah, same. I would say my early teens career was very similar to Sina. Like a lot of band tees. I had two piercings in my nose and a Monroe here. And I remember when like the super chunky streaky highlights were a thing. I had all that and they were like purple and super bleach blonde. There's photos of me in at that time. Like, I'm still wearing a T shirt and a vest. The silhouette of the vest back then was like, you know, super tight and cropped and like you wore leggings and then the stinky ballet flats with it. But like, I don't know, was that minimal back then? I wear vests today. I don't know.
Alyssa
That's true.
Unnamed Speaker
So, you know, jeans and Harley tees and stuff like that. That was a big, big element. Yeah.
Sina
What kind of music did you listen to? Were you influenced by any of the music, like ever. Lavigne and that kind of stuff, or was it.
Unnamed Speaker
No, at the time I would say I was more of like a Red Hot Chili Peppers comes to mind. Pearl Jam, sound garden, stuff like that? Yeah.
Alyssa
Would you.
Unnamed Speaker
But my first band tee was a Backstreet Boys tea. I remember that. But that was like when I was like 12. So amazing. So early band tees from back then.
Alyssa
Were you. Did you, either of you find your style changed as your outside environments changed or interests, like when you moved?
Sina
Did.
Alyssa
Did those things have an effect on your style?
Sina
I feel like when I was younger, I was definitely more influenced of what people around me wore than what I am now. Like, I feel like that's the big difference from then and now. You're a lot more confident with what you like wearing now than you were back then. It was. It was just as much a matter of, like, fitting in with whatever group you felt like you belonged to, I think, which you kind of do in the same way when you grow up, I guess, because that is a thing with fashion, that it kind of connects you to certain groups, but it's just less, I guess I feel less dictated, you know, of my surroundings today, if that makes sense.
Alyssa
I definitely didn't experiment. It's like, not fun. My version of experimentation was like wearing a turquoise top. I'll see if I can find it.
Unnamed Speaker
I remember, remember when, like, mint and turquoise was such a thing. Like, I had a pair of, like, mint turquoise skinny jeans and like, mint.
Sina
Oh, my God, me too.
Alyssa
Nice.
Sina
Do you remember the mint candy apple from Essie? The nail polish? There's like this one really iconic nail polish from Essie called mint candy apple.
Unnamed Speaker
I'm looking it up.
Alyssa
I. Okay. To this day, like, mint is, like, now one of my favorite.
Unnamed Speaker
Oh, yes.
Alyssa
Wait, is the nail polish.
Unnamed Speaker
Yeah, yeah, exactly. I had a pair of jeans exactly this color. Yes.
Alyssa
Yeah, I think I did too, actually. I'm sure you had green jeans for sure. Yeah.
Sina
Colorful jeans in general. I feel like they have.
Unnamed Speaker
Yeah, they were such a thing.
Alyssa
Yeah, they were a thing. Yeah, sure.
Unnamed Speaker
That was like a 2013 staple for me. Yeah, yeah. I had, like, yellow ones. I had burgundy ones.
Alyssa
Mm.
Unnamed Speaker
So, okay. I was like, I'm always like a jeans gal. Obvious, like, you know, but. But whatever, I guess was trendy. And I think, honestly, that's still a little bit true. I like having, like the updated silhouette of denim and I like experimenting with denim, but I think it's because, like, that's my staple and that's what I wear. So that's consistent, I would say.
Alyssa
Yeah, that's cool. Actually. Like, it's denim, but like all versions of it. Kind of like your blazer, like you were saying in that episode. Yeah, yeah. I. I think my only phase of. Yeah. Like, full on experimentation was when I started to work, when I got my first job out of university and at the bank and like, you know, you you have access to money. So that was like, very wild and directionless. I just saw all these, like corporate women coming in and they all had like a beautiful shift dress and matching blazer. And there was like a group of women who were probably in their 30s at the time, and they would always like, come back from their lunch with like bags from Banana Republic or whatever. And I just, I remember wanting to emulate that, like wearing color to the office and stuff. But then in the end I figured it out and I just started wearing what I liked and.
Unnamed Speaker
Which was what?
Alyssa
Which was just like tailored trouser, button up shirt, sometimes a men's tie, pencil skirt, always pencil skirt and a button up pencil skirt and a knit sweater. Always a high heeled pump, rarely a blazer. And I think, I think as hard as I tried, like, even I remember, I don't know if you. If you've ever had this sort of happen to you with your style, but I'm realizing now, as hard as I try, even now I'm learning this to like, be a bit more relaxed. And like, that's why I have to have that word of undone in my three words to help me, like, stay loose. But I think I just really like corporate wear. Like, I think I really like, like a trouser. I think that's just who I am. And I keep trying to, like, get away from it, to be like, oh, I should be more chill and more relaxed. But, like, I think that's it. I think I can't, like, run from it. I think it's holding.
Unnamed Speaker
I think it's in like hair and like other things, though the three word. The third word, or whatever word you want to aspire to doesn't always have to be clothing. Like, you can use your hair, your makeup, and I feel like your hair is always this like, wild Botticelli. Wild.
Alyssa
Fun.
Unnamed Speaker
Yeah.
Sina
But I find that that's what's fascinating about looking back at your own style. Evolution is also about. It's like you've still c. You know, you still hold on to some of those little experimental things that you may have done back then, at least for. For me, like it sounds like you did. You've kind of been doing the same Alyssa that you still hold on. You held on to that corporate way of dressing somehow. Like, my style words are soft, minimal, and cool. And I feel like that word cool is where I try to, you know, still hold on to everything that I was back then, but just in a way more subtle way because I still love, like, bad T shirts. And I've talked about Anina Bing as a style reference, and I think it's because I really. She kind of brings out that rock and roll quote, unquote, rock and roll chic kind of vibe, but just in a way more subtle way than what I did back then. And it just feels so representative of who I am and what I want to, like, express and how I want to feel with what I wear.
Alyssa
It's a really good point.
Unnamed Speaker
Yeah, I like that. That's. Yeah. And we kind of talked about, like. We talked about, like, dressing your age and all of that in a previous episode. And I think, like, not to say that that's a version of it, but it's kind of like you can. It's how you. As you get older and maybe that piece of you becomes something of the past, but you still want to have, like, a nod to it or keep a certain piece of it. So maybe that volume on that dial is not turned up super high anymore, but you still want to have little pieces of that as you get older. More subtle, I guess. Yeah, maybe in that way.
Sina
Yeah.
Alyssa
That's a really good way to look at it, and it's a really great tip. Yeah. Yeah. I don't know, because I'm not gonna.
Unnamed Speaker
Have the two nose rings and the Monroe piercing and the. The rogue from X Men streak in my hair, you know, now. Yeah.
Alyssa
How would you say you would inject that into your current style, though, Chris? Like, just with the denim. Yeah.
Unnamed Speaker
Like, maybe like a rip pair of jeans or like, Harley Davidson tee or like the. Let the biker jacket. Stuff like that.
Sina
That's probably where maybe even the sharpness piece, too.
Unnamed Speaker
Right.
Sina
Because I feel like it's, you know, the. The edginess of that could also probably be argued to fit into that somehow.
Unnamed Speaker
Yeah, yeah, yeah, for sure. Yeah. Because I used to think I would. I kind of. Before I had my styling session with Alison Borenstein, and we kind of, like, narrowed down that word sharp. I thought I was more like chill, minimal, classic, and then with a modifier of edgy. But edgy is, like, a little bit tougher. And I think of, like, chains. And, you know, it could be, like, chains and piercings and red lipstick and black eyeliner and more like rock and roll. And I think that is still an element, but I think sharp helps me bring it into my corporate wear. Or more like everyday edgy. I think of, like, biker and all that stuff, which is. Which has elements of that. Like, my parents were bikers growing up, so there were, like. We always had like motorcycles and blues and Harley Davidson stuff and jeans and biker boots and all that, like, growing up. Um, but it does not. That's not part of my style all the time. So, like, sharp, I think, brings it in in other ways, makes it more versatile, I think. Yeah.
Alyssa
How do you evolve your style without shopping too much?
Sina
Yeah, that's a tricky question because it happens over so many years, too. Alyssa, you just mentioned that you actually made a style evolution video recently. Right. And when you look at it from the outside, when you go through, when you talk through like a 10 year or 15 year period of your life and you talk about how your style has changed, it can look very overwhelming to those looking right from the outside. You know, it feels like, okay, you just changed your entire wardrobe.
Alyssa
Right.
Sina
But 10 or 15 years is a long time. Like, obviously you've, you've bought new clothes in that period.
Alyssa
Yeah.
Sina
And I feel like in a shorter, like during a two or three year period, you can definitely style your way out of a lot of things, but I think eventually you're gonna have to.
Alyssa
Buy new things and let some pieces go.
Unnamed Speaker
The way I feel a lot of evolution comes from is like, you use a lot of your inspiration. So whether it be like your Pinterest board, people that you follow, things that you see, street style, movies, whatever it is, I think you can start with seeing what you already have. I think that's obviously the best place to start. Most sustainable. And then you can just play around. So we talk a lot about. Or. Alyssa, you know, you talk about a lot about, like, elements of style. And, you know, it's the proportion, it's the silhouette, it's the shapes that create that vibe. You know, after you've tried and experimented with what you have, maybe it's like tying your button down shirt in a different way. Maybe it's buttoning it in a different way. Maybe it's layering, maybe it's your hairstyle or your lipstick or accessorizing, things like that. So I think there's things that you can do. Like, I think it starts with experimenting with what you've got and then see what works and what doesn't. And at least that way you know, you've tried. And then it's like, okay, maybe this, maybe the button down I have is a bit too fitted for the vibe that I want. Or, you know, maybe all I'm really missing is like a really cool belt with some great hardware. And that's, that's what I feel like I'm craving kind of thing so one thing I want to mention is that I think a great tool to evolve your style doesn't necessarily have to be in clothing. So I think accessories and shoes are a great. So things like jewelry, shoes, bags, belts. I love footwear as a way to evolve style, too, or to change even hair and makeup. Yeah. So there's a lot you can do, but it starts with, like, your experimenting first and then kind of assessing what you like, what you didn't, what maybe still feels missing. And then that's when you can kind of, like, fill in gaps that way, as opposed to, you know, like, if I. If Anina Bing is like my style avatar, instead of going out to buy her whole outfit, which might then feel like a costume, it's like, what are bits and pieces that you can integrate in slowly?
Sina
Yeah. I love how you often refer to it as little dials that you can dial up and down. Because if I were to wear something that I would have worn when I was 18 and I was like, full on rock and roll kind of, I would have worn, you know, I could have put on both a band T shirt and a biker jacket and a pair of boots, whereas I still have all of those pieces in my wardrobe, but I just wouldn't put them all together because it would feel like I've dialed it up too much. So it's about, like, how you put the little elements of style together and how much space is each piece is taking up in your. In your outfit.
Alyssa
Did either of you have any periods where you, like, fought hard against who you were? And once you came to, like, a place of self acceptance, you found that unlocked your style a little bit better?
Sina
I mean, after. After the rock and roll, we. That's when I started studying design and I got my first job as a. And that's where I started watching the Hills. And I was very inspired by Lauren Conrad, which is, like, I would say almost the opposite of how I used to dress back in the. Like, she was very feminine and very bohemian, you know, bohemian, romantic, you know, all of those more sensible style words. And I was very much. I was very much drawn to that at a certain period of my life. And I think. I don't know, but I quickly found out, you know, that that was. That I hardly dress like that today because it's just not me. I love dresses, and I love. I love. I can still. When I see pictures of her, I still feel kind of drawn to it, but now I know that it's just. It just doesn't feel right. When I Wear stuff like that.
Unnamed Speaker
I don't know. I feel like there's always been a definite through line with my style, but I just felt like I spent so much of my twenties just shopping and shopping and shopping and mannequin, like, buying outfits straight off the mannequin and buying whatever was new that I just. I would say, like, again, the through line, like, I still loved my blazers. I really liked minimal pieces. Some of them were colorful and strange, like the mint skinny jeans with like, you know, so. But I just think I was just shopping so much all the time that I just, like, didn't know. I just didn't pay attention to that. I don't think I was focused on that. I wasn't focused on personal style. I was focused on just buying things and keeping up as opposed to. Because that personal style, like, wasn't. Nobody really talked about it the way we talk about it now. You know, I feel like it's also.
Sina
We. It was in the blogging, like, when blogs started arising, and it was. And everyone was very experimental.
Unnamed Speaker
Yeah. I think personal style was definitely a thing, but just. It wasn't like nobody was really talking about, like, finding it and what, you know, at that time, too, I think there was still, like, subcultures and rather than aesthetics that we talk about now or cores or whatever it is too, you know, So I think I knew what I liked at the time, but I just couldn't put a name to it. And I didn't know there was a. There was a pattern.
Alyssa
Yeah. Did either of you allow your careers in blogging or whether it was a side hustle at the time, like, inform or, like, really influence your style? Like, Christina, you were kind of talking about that, like you were shopping just to, you know, get the outfit off the mannequin or whatever. But did you. Did you find you were just taking photos or putting outfits together just for the sake of taking a photo or being.
Unnamed Speaker
Oh, at the beginning. Yeah.
Alyssa
Blogger. This is what I have to do.
Unnamed Speaker
Oh, totally. 100%. Yeah. Yeah. Because. And it's like you try to be a style blogger. You try to be, like, on trend and current and kind of be the. The trendsetter with that. Yeah, big time.
Alyssa
I just put wacky outfits together. I didn't necessarily do the whole, like, buying new, but I. I would just put weird things together that made absolutely no sense.
Unnamed Speaker
Yeah.
Alyssa
Why.
Unnamed Speaker
Were you on Tumblr?
Sina
No, no, me neither. No. But I was Block lovin. Was the thing that. Where you could.
Unnamed Speaker
Yes. Vlog 11. Yep.
Sina
Where you stayed on top of New blog posts and stuff. But I feel like even when I started my journey into minimalism, which I think it kind of. It kind of evolved after my whole Lauren Conrap face, because I just realized that this is really wasteful. Like, I need to figure out what I really want, you know, similar to what you mentioned, Christine, I always felt like I didn't have enough. Like, I need. I was constantly adding things to my wardrobe, but still feeling like I had. I didn't have enough. But I think even with the early days of minimalism, I felt that I had to kind of fit in with, like, the stereotype.
Unnamed Speaker
Yeah. Black T shirt and jeans and that's it.
Sina
Yeah, yeah. And there's still, like, elements of that that I feel really, really drawn to. I don't think that's ever going to change also, because when I look back at my, like, upbringing and, like, what we had and how the way our home looked and the way my, you know, the way that our home was decorated and the way that my parents were spending money and stuff, I feel like it. I can see why I feel drawn to minimalism in that sense. But, yeah, I was definitely dressing for an aesthetic at the beginning, I think, more than figuring out, like, what we talk about so much today, like, what is your style, personality?
Alyssa
What would you say? And now would you say you have both developed, like, a signature style? Would you say? I think so. I feel like we've.
Unnamed Speaker
I think so.
Alyssa
Signature style.
Unnamed Speaker
I feel like we all have. Yeah. Like, I think coming up with your style words, for me, a lot of it before I knew the anything about style words and how to describe your style and style personalities, etcetera, it was a lot of just finding your style uniform. That's how I kind of found mine. For me, it was obviously a lot of decluttering. And just like, you know, I do think that if you start. If you're starting with a lot, or if you're starting with some major overwhelm, and I think decluttering can really help you because what remains is what you actually want to keep. So I like to. If we are decluttering, coming at it from a perspective of not what you should. What you think you should get rid of, but focus on what you want to keep. And that's how you can kind of curate and see the patterns and, like, see the through lines. And from there, you can kind of distill down your style words and what you like to wear, the outfit combinations that you really like to work with. But for me, it started with that uniform. So, like, I know I'm not a. I don't like dresses. I don't. Well, not that I shouldn't say that I like them now, but, you know, at the time, I was super into trousers. Jeans, I liked. I was a huge sneaker person or flats. I didn't really wear a lot of heels. Blazer all the time with everything. Tank top, T shirt. So that was kind of like the style uniform. And then it was just kind of playing with different iterations and different ways to layer and different ways to bring in texture and depth. And that's kind of how I. How I found it when I was. When I. When I knew. Kind of when I started looking, I guess, because I wasn't really looking and thinking about that.
Alyssa
I find there's a lot of. I've been thinking a lot about if there are parallels just in how I like to, like, move through life and looking even outside for my preferences, like, even the type of music I listen to or, like, how I approach. Like, I even notice, like, in what I eat, you know, Like, I won't deviate from. From like, really basic classic. Yeah. Creature of habit. So, like, experiment. I rarely experimented. Like, if I'm looking back and, like, I still don't, like, maybe with food and wine and stuff, it's a little different. But, like, once I find something I like, I just. I don't feel the need to experiment or seek other options. So, yeah, I guess, definitely it was. It was more on the side of. Of discovering myself and discovering my likes and wants and actually owning those and being like, okay, no, it's. It's okay if I only like, simple V neck sweater. Like, that's. That's okay. Or like, even when I'm eat, like, even if I'm, like, out with friends. I don't know. I think there's so many parallels. Even if I'm out with friends and we're ordering something and it's like, no, I'm gonna get. I'm gonna get the. Don't. The cinnamon and sugar donut. Like, I don't want to try the jelly with the sprinkles. I don't want to try the weird, like, bacon maple flour. I don't need no, like, cinnamon sugar, man. Like, whatever. Like, I don't F this.
Sina
I love it.
Alyssa
And then I was like, no, but, you know, like, it's the same with my closet. Like a jeans and a sweater. Like, I'm. I'm fine.
Sina
Yeah.
Alyssa
So it's just. And I don't know. I Struggle with the whole, like, sounds like you're content.
Unnamed Speaker
Sounds like there's enough.
Alyssa
Yeah. Maybe that's what it is. It's like, no, I'm fine. I'm happy.
Sina
But, like, I don't think that's negative at all. Like, especially in our day and age where we're told all the time that we need to try new stuff and we need to. And there's so many possibilities. I think it's. I think it's a strength when you can be like, no, I don't need to too.
Alyssa
But it takes a while to get there.
Unnamed Speaker
It does. And it's. I feel like that's assuring when you do experiment and then it backfires.
Alyssa
Right?
Sina
Ooh.
Alyssa
Yeah.
Unnamed Speaker
Because this is something like, not to do with clothing, but I just. I ran out of mascara and I bought a new one. I'm like, oh, let me try it. I'm like, I hate this mascara. Why did I. Why did I change? I'm going back to the old one.
Alyssa
Yes.
Unnamed Speaker
Don't fix it. Exactly.
Alyssa
So it's cool. I think it's like. And I think that's where the whole, like, concept of self trust and all that and assurance comes in. It's like, okay. No, if you like this, it's okay to like what you like. It's okay.
Sina
Yeah.
Alyssa
I think that was probably the biggest piece of my style evolution.
Unnamed Speaker
I think we've all recognized that we've had the same sort of foundation or like the same theme in our style this whole time. But, you know, it has changed slightly in terms of maybe pieces, some silhouettes and how. I think it's like the relationship to it, and it's almost like it gets more solid as you get to know yourself better and you just kind of start owning what you like. And I think that's like a really cool. I think that's the cool thing about it.
Alyssa
Yeah.
Sina
Yeah.
Alyssa
It becomes unapologetic. Well, let us know what you think, what your style evolution was. What was the most exciting period of your personal style? We hope that you say it is your current moment because thank you so, so much for listening and for watching. If you're following and watching on YouTube, don't forget to hit that join button. If you are looking for exclusive content, you know, more chats with us, we drop an exclusive video every month where we answer your. The community questions. So it's a lot of fun. You can also find us anywhere you catch your podcasts, Apple, Spotify, don't forget to rate and subscribe because it's supports our work and it allows us to make more of this for you. So we'll see you in the next one. Thanks for being here. Yeah, bye.
Sina
Thank you so much for joining in our conversation this week. If you're enjoying the show, we'd love it if you subscribe to the podcast on Spotify and Apple and leave us a rating and review. It's one of the best ways to support the Sustain this podcast at zero cost to you.
Christina
We're also a community led podcast, so if you have any questions for us, topic requests, or even guests you want to hear from, please send us a DM on Instagram @ Sustain this Podcast. We read all of our comments and look forward to hearing from you.
Alyssa
We hope you join us again next Tuesday where we'll talk about so much more than clothes.
Sina
Ciao.
Podcast Title: Sustain This!
Episode: How Our Style Has Evolved Over the Years
Release Date: November 12, 2024
Hosts: Alyssa Beltempo, Christina Mychas, & Signe Hansen
In this engaging episode of Sustain This!, hosts Alyssa Beltempo, Christina Mychas, and Signe Hansen delve into a personal discussion about the evolution of their personal styles over the years. They explore how age, confidence, and life changes influence one's approach to fashion and mindful consumption.
The conversation kicks off with reflections on early fashion memories, particularly during high school—a pivotal time for many in developing their personal style.
Signe Hansen shares her high school experience:
"High school is always a great starting point, at least for me, because I feel like that's where I moved away from home and you start managing your own money entirely and what you spend your money on, what kind of clothes you buy." [01:43]
She emphasizes how gaining financial independence allowed her to experiment more with her wardrobe:
"I was very experimental at that. I definitely had an emo phase where I had like a lip ring and some piercings." [02:20]
Christina Mychas echoes similar sentiments, discussing her early teens:
"My early teens career was very similar to Sina. Like a lot of band tees... super chunky streaky highlights... jeans and Harley tees were a big element." [04:29]
Music plays a significant role in shaping the hosts' styles during their formative years.
Christina recounts her musical influences:
"I was more influenced by music like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden." [04:47]
Signe mentions her first band tee was from the Backstreet Boys at age 12, highlighting the eclectic mix of her early style inspirations:
"My first band tee was a Backstreet Boys tee. I remember that when I was 12." [05:14]
The hosts discuss how music trends and band merchandise often dictate fashion choices during youth, leading to vibrant and bold style statements.
A pivotal moment in the discussion is Alyssa's transition to corporate attire when she began her first job at a bank:
"I saw all these corporate women with shift dresses and matching blazers and wanted to emulate that by wearing color to the office." [07:21]
Despite initial experimentation, Alyssa found herself gravitating back to a more structured wardrobe:
"I started wearing what I liked—tailored trousers, button-up shirts, pencil skirts, and high-heeled pumps." [08:40]
This section highlights the challenge of balancing personal style with professional expectations, a common theme among many professionals.
As the hosts grew more confident in their personal style, they began to articulate their unique fashion identities.
Signe explains her style evolution after styling sessions:
"My style words are soft, minimal, and cool. 'Cool' helps me integrate edgy elements like bad T-shirts in a more subtle way." [12:07]
Christina discusses finding her style uniform through decluttering:
"Decluttering helped me see patterns and through lines in what I truly wanted to keep, allowing me to curate my style more effectively." [22:23]
Alyssa reflects on her consistency and comfort with her style:
"Once I find something I like, I don't feel the need to experiment or seek other options." [25:32]
The hosts emphasize the importance of self-acceptance and owning one's style choices, moving away from external pressures to conform.
Sustainable fashion and mindful consumption are central to the hosts' approach in evolving their styles without overindulging in shopping.
Christina offers practical advice:
"Start by experimenting with what you already have. Play around with proportions, silhouettes, and accessories to breathe new life into your wardrobe." [15:24]
She highlights the role of accessories, shoes, and even hair and makeup in transforming outfits without the need for constant new purchases:
"Accessories and shoes are great tools to evolve your style. They allow you to make significant changes without buying entirely new outfits." [15:24]
A key takeaway from the episode is the journey toward self-trust and confidence in one's style choices.
Alyssa shares her struggle and growth:
"It's okay if I only like a simple V-neck sweater. I'm happy with what I have." [25:44]
Signe reinforces the strength in personal contentment:
"It's a strength when you can be like, no, I don't need to try everything. Trusting yourself is empowering." [26:04]
The hosts encourage listeners to embrace their unique styles unapologetically, highlighting that true style evolution is rooted in self-awareness and acceptance.
The episode wraps up with an invitation for listeners to reflect on their own style journeys. The hosts encourage sharing personal stories and engage with their community through various platforms. They reiterate the importance of mindful consumption and finding joy in a curated, intentional wardrobe.
Alyssa concludes:
"We hope you join us again next Tuesday where we'll talk about so much more than clothes." [27:13]
Personal Growth Influences Style: As individuals age and gain confidence, their style naturally evolves to reflect their personal growth and changing life circumstances.
Mindful Consumption: Emphasizing the importance of experimenting with existing wardrobe pieces and using accessories to refresh one's style without excessive shopping.
Self-Acceptance: Embracing and owning one's unique style leads to more authentic and sustained fashion choices, fostering a sense of confidence and contentment.
Sustainable Practices: Decluttering and curating a wardrobe based on personal preference supports sustainable fashion practices and reduces waste.
Join the Conversation:
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