Heather Frierson
By Heather Frierson
CreatedWoman.net
What is fashion, really? It’s become a word that, for some, is the lifeline of our world; it’s our source of income and our bread and butter. For others, it’s a fun hobby; a means of escaping the wild terrain of life into our favorite mall, looking feverishly for the new trend that must find a home into our closet. Still others simply see it as a way to cover their bodies or to look professional. For most of us, it’s a way of expression and an art form. Whether your statement is rebellion, status, comfort, or personality, all of us have chosen a fashion style. Even those that don’t care about being fashionable actually choose a fashion and make a statement about who they are.
Long ago, when I struggled in the world of retail while pursuing my dream of becoming a part of the glamorous fashion world, I tried to no avail to stay abreast of all the hottest new designers, the couture labels of the fashion industry, and kept my closet loaded with each new hot trend. It was my world. But what I began to notice was that I hated most of the trends and didn’t want to wear the latest “la-dee-da” from “so and so”. I wanted to wear my jeans (designer of course), t-shirt, and comfy, yet stylish, heels; usually in a monochromatic color scheme. No florals, PLEASE!
I began to not really care about looking like ‘her’ or ‘them’; I wanted to feel comfortable in my own skin, or rather, my own clothes. As I continued to work the beast of the retail world, I began to take a little more notice of who was buying what. Yes, there were those that clamored for ‘the look’ of the season just because it was the thing to have. But others clamored for ‘the look’ of the season because they actually identified with that designer. It actually spoke to them. Those trendy collections were who they were and they wore each piece fantastically!
It was those women whom I then identified with. And I found new energy to sashay them across the store looking for the perfect ‘look’ until the prize outfit was identified, thrown on to find the perfect fit, purchased, wrapped, and flung into the car of the new owner. It was an amazing accomplishment and one that required pats on the back! It didn’t matter what the latest trend was. What mattered was who they were….on the inside; how they felt, what they thought was beautiful, comfortable, and worth the investment.
These days, I shudder when I hear women say the dreadful words, ‘I hate Fashion’, or ‘I don’t care about Fashion’, because the truth is, they just haven’t gotten it….yet! Oh, they’ve chosen a fashion style. That’s for certain; they just don’t realize it!
Fashion’s not just the latest trend or hottest new collection on the runway. Fashion is who you are on the inside. It’s a reflection of you, just like your home. Your home is where your family is or where your friends gather for coffee and girls night and you’ve made it into a place that you feel comfortable in and enjoy coming back to. That’s what fashion is. It’s the clothes that make you feel like you!
So whether you identify with the laid back style of Jennifer Aniston, like I do, or are a fashion risk taker like Katie Perry, or love the effortless look of Nicole Richie’s bohemian style, stay true to who are. Having to buy clothes shouldn’t be the biggest stress of your week. It should be one that’s effortless because you’re not trying to be anyone else but you! And that’s beautiful!
Heather is the founder of CreatedWoman.net, a fashion blog that highlights family, health, fun and personal living, reaching over 55,000 readers in 2011. Fashion has been a life long passion of Heather’s. After earning a degree in Fashion Merchandise, Heather worked as an Assistant Manager in a high-end retail store. Her experience revealed to Heather the uniqueness of every woman and along her journey, her passion became to encourage women to become all they’re created to be, both inside and out. Heather reaches out to women of every age through her blog, Created Woman, and launching in 2013, Created Woman Magazine. To purchase Heather’s book, “Now, While You Are Single” or to learn how you can be a part of Created Woman, email heather@createdwoman.net
