Style Confidence

Personal style at any age. Grece Ghanem age 59.

How do clothes make you feel? Are you making a statement or are you just trying to blend in and not be seen? What is style and why does it matter? Do you take risks with fashion? Are you fearless? Clothes make me feel confident and my personal style tells you who I am. Even when I was obese, I still loved fashion, but clothes didn’t look good on me, and I was limited in what I could wear. Now everything looks good which is bad for my bank account. I’m into basics right now, a minimalist look. A simple tee or button-down shirt with jeans or trousers and loafers, but not just any loafers right now I’m rocking these cool caged jelly slip-ons. I’m really into big dad blazers too right now. I’ve had one in my closet for years and now I’m starting to wear it.

High fashion coming from the grocery store.

What is R13? It’s a luxury fashion brand and my favorite right now. It’s more affordable than most luxury fashion brands like Alexander McQueen and Tom Ford. I do try to shop for inexpensive garments and sometimes I succeed. I love Gap’s VintageSoft t-shirts, and they are always on sale, I’m wearing one right now. My sneakers were only $100 but my sweats were $525. What can I say I like what I like. Why do people judge you for buying expensive garments? They think it’s about the brand name but it’s not. Go to a department store like Nordstrom and choose a few reasonably priced garments and some expensive garments. There is a huge difference. The clothes fall differently, they shape the body differently and no matter what some say they do last longer. They never grow old or even look old.

R13 from head to toe.

Back in 2004 or 2005 I bought a Louis Vuitton handbag and twenty years later it’s still in pristine condition. I bought this gorgeous metallic green Versace knock off for $25 from Akira and I was only able to sport it four times before it began to look tattered. I didn’t know it was a Versace knock off until after I bought it or else I wouldn’t have gotten it. I just really loved the color. I really wanted this Mansur Gavriel gorgeous metallic green clutch, but it was $545 so I didn’t get it. Instead, I got a similar Jeffrey Campbell clutch for maybe $60 that was worn out after carrying it maybe eight times. Don’t judge me because I have expensive taste. You won’t know I’m wearing R13 because there’s no logo printed on the clothes like Gucci, but I know, and it makes me stand up straighter and feel my best.

No one understands my style either. My sister and nephew were making fun of me because my jeans were saggy in the butt, and they came to my ankles. That was intentional. The style is ex-boyfriend jeans, so they are meant to fit that way, and those jeans look great with a classic white button down and loafers.

I haven’t gone into debt over my choices in fashion, but I do regret recently spending so much money on expensive pieces. I didn’t need this last sweatsuit I bought, and it was not in the plan. I’ve got two trips coming up in June and money is going to be tight because I spent all my savings on R13 clothes. It is time to stop and put forth a greater effort to save money. I finally got my passport and I’m planning a trip to London, so I need to save up for it.

Wear what makes you feel good no matter the cost, pricey or reasonable. You should always look and feel your best, even while lounging around the house, I know I do.