SELF EXPRESSION.

SELF EXPRESSION AND IGNORING HATERZ

This isn’t a very informative post, but it is a message for all the galdem.

DON’T LET OTHER PEOPLES OPINIONS SHAPE YOU

I distinctly remember when I was in year 8, I bought my first pair of doc martens with my dad. I was so excited to wear them to school as I was really into vintage style back then. I was a little skinny thing with these big clumpy DM’s on, but that’s what I liked? I remember one day I walked into the toilets and some girls a few years above were doing their makeup in the mirror. They actually made the effort to point and laugh at my shoes saying, “omg look at those” and “why the fuck would you wear them” to my face when I was on my own….it was intimidating enough being around older years, but to call me out made me feel so embarrassed and upset. What annoys me most is that I stopped wearing them because I was so scared of what these people thought of me. Looking back, those girls were covered in makeup and wore those flimsy ballet  pumps and I was rockin DM's (and still do)

Do you know what’s even worse…? I used to do things I thought would make boys like me more (e.g. ridiculous hair down to my bum and wearing SO NOT ME dresses to house parties). Don’t get me wrong I don’t want to be single forever and for boys to never find me attractive, cus that’d be peak but I have just chosen to focus on myself more. It annoys me how much I used to care about what other people thought of me. I bought so many clothes that were kind of quirky but felt like people would judge me if I wore them out so just returned them. Like I can’t believe the fear of being judged stopped me from doing things I wanted….

I literally represent most things boys probably find unattractive- I’m unladylike, a bit lanky and overly opinionated. I dress like a hippy skater boy in fur. BUT THAT’S WHAT I LIKE?

Realistically, I am a ledge in my own right, I can kick my leg up to the cereal cupboard in my kitchen (flexibility) I’m great at impressions (useful) and I will literally look as ugly as possible to make people laugh (why I’m single). …What more could you want x

Life is too short for people who make you delete funny pics because they look slightly ugly, you don’t need that in ya life.

I have recently decided that being regarded as funny or cool is so much more important than being super peng and boring. It’s a brucey bonus if you are beautiful and funny (shout out to my gals) but changing yourself to impress others and overly obsessing about your appearance is so time consuming and not worth it.

I used to literally have a phobia of people seeing me without makeup on …. like that was my worst fear. However, once you go through A levels and watch everyone slowly deteriorate you realise that nobody cares what you look like and it’s so chill. Being able to rub ya eyes cus you have no mascara on is one of the little things in life.

It was the same when I first started uni, I was so self-conscious and worried about my flat mates seeing me without makeup on…. AND how times have changed. You can now find me at the vending machine in my dressing gown and sliders with sudocrem on my face buying a Bueno every evening.

Although I used to care SO much what people thought of me, I have gradually adapted my mindset. Whatever people say for me to do, I tend to do the opposite… ha ha so punk of me! 

People even laughed at my white 95’s I got a few years ago saying they looked like old PE trainers and were so ugly. AND NOW LOOK, every girl in Gloucestershire fucking owns a pair??? Ignore these people that say negative things about the way you dress…unless they give you a reason to actually value their opinion.

EXPERIMENT - I can’t stress the importance of trying different styles, it’ll give you so much more choice in the future!! Don't get me wrong, I have famously experimented and had complete failures! Cutting my own fringe, dying my own hair, cutting my hair - actually lesson is don't touch ya hair, that's where I've gone wrong most. I have made some horrendous fashion choices over the years...like even things I wore only last year make me question my sanity. You gotta take risks to find your true style, which I am still yet to find.

Sometimes when I want to buy something a bit risky or out there, I’ll message someone who I respect and admire and see what they think. That’s ok, sharing ideas and asking advice is all part of building your identity and creating a style unique to you. But don’t let uninspiring and unimportant people shape the way you present yourself as they probably still shop in River Island.

I also understand the struggle of wanting a certain look, but not having the funds to achieve it. I see so many things I would die to wear but can't afford to buy so that is one huge limitation with experimentation and trying to express yourself at this age, so many clothes, so little funds x

I guess my point is, do things cus you want to do them. Don’t let the fear of judgement hold you back. Since going to uni, I have started to feel like I can wear whatever I want without judgement, I feel like everyone is creating their own identity, whatever that may entail. I’ll probs do a 2007 Britney anytime soon and shave my swede for some weird political statement, who knows x