31 May 3 Pieces of Style Advice I’d Give My Younger Self

My birthday is exactly one month away {woo hoo, Cancers!} and I naturally can’t stop thinking about what I know now that I wish I knew then. That includes everything from love to finances and even personal style.

My 20s were full of style envy. I worked at fashion magazines so I was naturally envious of the celebs on the pages of the mag and even the coworkers I encountered every single day. They just looked so great and I just…well, I wasn’t really sure.

But looking back, there are a few things I know for sure and that I’d tell my younger self.

Don’t Invest Before You’re Sure
Most people in their early 20s don’t exactly have their personal style figured out just yet. And that’s a-okay. If you’re debt free and/or living at home with your parents, it might be possible to splurge on a few pieces, but I’d say hold off. That bag you dropped major cash on and love so much might make you cringe 10 years from now. With changing tastes and even changing occupations, the splurge-worthy piece of today might be a what-was-I-thinking of tomorrow.

Find Your Signature 
Everyone has a “thing.” That could be a love of dresses, a collection of vintage blazers or maybe a strong accessory game. But find your thing. For me that’s bright colors. I love color. Loooooove. But years ago I didn’t want to be too flashy or look “loud” so I’d try to subdue my style. However, I finally realized color was my thing. At other times my “thing” has been fun press on nails or an array of rings. This is all about finding your zone.

#fbf to when I clearly had a more is more mentality. The red coat, faux fur, rings and gold press on nails. I regret nothing! 😂💅🏿

A post shared by Patrice J. Williams (@patricejwill) on May 4, 2018 at 6:29pm PDT

Take a Risk
Finally, I would have told my 25 year old self to just have fun. Your style is serious because it’s a representation of you, but fashion should be fun. Try something new. Rock a bold color. Try a different cut of jeans. Anything! Try it all so you know what sticks and what your signature is {see above!}. I make a conscious choice to remind myself of this because it’s easy to get stuck in a rut. For the longest time, I only ever wore aviator style glasses or round frames because I felt nothing else would flatter my face. Um, I was so wrong!

This summer I vowed to take a risk and try new styles, like these $11 retro sunglasses from Amazon.

I don’t invest in trends but I will buy these $10 frames from Amazon. * * * * #lookingflyonadime #budgetfashion#affordablefashion #fashioninspo #fashiononabudget #blackswhoblog #browngirlblogger #blackgirlswhoblog #blackfashionblogger #melaninmagic #makeyousmilestyle #abmlifeiscolorful #candyminimal #colorhunters #ihavethisthingwithpink #colorlove #abmhappylife #whattoweartoday #fashionislife #thriftstyle #budgetstyle #affordablestyle #bikinibody #beachday #mdw2018 #memorialdayweekend #amazonfinds #amazonfashion #amazonstyle

A post shared by Patrice J. Williams (@patricejwill) on May 27, 2018 at 11:26am PDT

And I’m absolutely obsessed with these white cat eye frames from Coastal.

Regardless of whether you’re 25 years old or older or younger, don’t be afraid to seriously assess what works for you and silence the noise of what other people are wearing or doing.

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