Growing up, fashion meant being dressed head-to-toe for appropriate weather. That was the extent of thought I put into my outfits. I attended a charter school until age 11 where uniforms were required, and even painted nails or dangling earrings warranted detention. Switching to a public school opened my eyes to the endless possibilities of designing my “character.” I now had free range to dress colorfully, wear braids, and outwardly express myself. Though middle school was not where my sense of fashion was established, having the opportunity was the starting point. This was until the “fashion police” had a stronghold on me through high school.

Ill-fitting, laced-up crop tops and name brands like PINK, Champion, Forever 21, and H&M consumed my closet. Despite having no desire to wear these word-cluttered, funky-printed pieces, I did. I saw Instagram models wearing these clothes, coupled with my classmates’ comments, which resulted in my regurgitated fashion sense. Once I started working in retail my senior year of high school, I learned the specifics of what goes into fashion and how to style items. Through working with materials, color palettes, and cuts of clothing, I learned what best suited my figure and presented my personality. To reach that comfort, I stopped looking at labels—at least the way I used to.

Considering what items to buy due to how the media perceives everyone’s shopping experience is detrimental (and not ideal). Sizes are a construct. Brands oftentimes cater to a very specific demographic and their body too. Brandy Melville is known as a store for smaller frames, while Torrid is for bigger builds. The problem is, not everyone falls on one end of this spectrum, and as a mid-sized girl myself, I have found, and continue to find, clothes that compliment every roll and curve from a size 2 to a size 16. Each store runs differently and the material can make or break if a pair of pants go past your knees. This was a struggle for me to process. I critiqued my body for inconsistencies in the fashion industry, which “fashion police” never bothered to warn me about.

Caring too much about name brands has caused me to miss out on so many incredible pieces. Looking to brands for quality is essential; taking it off the rack for the name brand alone is a rookie mistake. Fashion does not have to be determined by price tag or status, and if you base your closet on that basis, prepare for FOMO.

Opening my eyes up to these realities led me to thrift shopping. Many of my staple items are preloved pieces found at affordable prices. Not only is thrifting appreciated by struggling college students like myself, but buying secondhand is environmentally conscious as well. Straying away from malls and slowly migrating to thrift stores was one of the best decisions for my closet. It keeps me away from what is on trend and focuses me on what unique pieces I can find. Neutrals are great, but distinctive colors are just as good—if not better. I’ve noticed that finding items in uncommon shades increases their fashion appeal exponentially. For example, periwinkle, seafoam green, and chartreuse items are rare finds and can add the perfect touch. These colors tend to pop more on various skin tones, and everyone will be asking where it's from or what the name is! What does the “fashion police” have to say about this?

There is a debate about combining both gold and silver. Listen, my hot take is to combine the two proudly. If you can pull it off, who has the place to say anything? That’s what I tell myself when picking out accessories for an outfit. As someone with several piercings, sometimes you find a gem in silver or perhaps gold, and a good find is a good find. Mixing gold and silver or mesh and solids is not a crime! Don’t let the “fashion police” tell you otherwise.

During my impressionable years, I would have been eternally grateful to anyone who would have debunked these fashion rules. Being a Black woman who lived in communities where expression was nonexistent, I genuinely feared stepping away from the basics. I had to remind myself that my clothes are meant to make me happy, not anyone else. As the fashion industry shifts, these rules are bound to change, but what is most important is that your clothes provide you with the confidence to go outside and demand what is rightfully yours, produce work that you are proud of, and show you a reflection that you could stare at all day. The “fashion police” are officially abolished!

Fashion Police Said What?