Like most teens struggling to survive middle school in the late 2000s, I would do anything to “fit in,” that meant wearing the latest and trendiest tops from Aeropostale and Hollister. You know, the $40 tees with their brand name plastered on the front that made you look like a walking billboard. Yet, as a 13-year-old, I felt like the most fashionable girl, strutting through the hallways of middle school wearing my new Hollister tee, until I saw four other girls wearing the same exact one.
By the time I got to high school, I was tired of worrying about finding my daily twin. I decided that my wardrobe needed a touch of originality. I began shopping at consignment stores, where I found affordable and unique chic clothes, which guaranteed that no one would be wearing the same outfit as me. If I found something at a consignment store, I would alter it and think of ways I could enhance it, or make it more my style. From then on, I went to school in style with confidence.
I have continued to consignment shop because I can always find something unique and it’s affordable for a college fashionista on a budget. Last week, I went to my favorite consignment store, where I stumbled across a maxi denim button-down skirt! A denim skirt is a staple for a Fashionista’s wardrobe and for it costing only $4, I was ready to staple it onto my body.
Although the skirt looked incredibly chic, I knew that it could be something more than just the denim skirt. My guru instincts kicked in and as soon as I got it in my closet, I did a few fashion experiments to see how I could style it. These are the results:
1—The Traditional Way
Wearing the skirt in the original fashion, I paired it with a striped T-shirt and some ballet flats. With a simple Kate Spade wristlet, this outfit is perfect for a walk downtown.
2—The Denim Dress
I simply pulled up the skirt and wrapped a braided belt around the waist, which ties it all together and coordinates with the Calvin Klein handbag. With a beaded choker and a fedora, this chic dress is ready to wear on a date.
3—The Denim Dress Plus a Bandeau
Once I had the denim dress, I tired one more experiment and slid my black bandeau over the top of it. Adding the bandeau makes it look like a completely different dress and paired with nude wedges and some red lipstick, I’d be ready to go shopping with the girls!
If your wardrobe needs a hint of originality stop in one of your local consignment stores and think outside the box. You never know what you’re going to find.
Which outfit is your favorite of my denim skirt experiments? Comment below!
