The American fashion house Cushnie et Ochs is attributed with the saying, “life is too short to wear boring clothes.”
That’s a motto I’ve grown to love and live by. I’ve never really been a slave to fashion. I find that following trends, while important in order to stay up-to-date on the next big thing, can really backfire on someone. In a way, it puts restraints on one’s personal style and how they would otherwise dress. It’s a balancing act of finding what works for you as an individual while staying somewhat true to the season’s trends.
Fashion and style are two completely separate concepts for me. Fashion is overarching, while style is truly an individual sport. In a city where nearly all men wear T-shirts and jeans and camouflage is the staple print pattern, I tend to stick out like a sore thumb. I treat the world like it’s my own personal runway, so I go out of my way to wear statement pieces that’ll turn heads and start conversations. Dressing like a “typical” guy is super boring to me anyway, so I really enjoy playing around with an androgynous wardrobe and clothing that has some movement. It really transforms the outfit as a whole and takes it to the next level. I’ve found that happy medium I mentioned earlier in a lot of South Korean fashion.
For this outfit, I decided to blend my love of edgy and “out there” clothes, with some all-American elements. I went with a simple white tank and a denim jacket that I’ve had for years. To make things more dramatic, I added these harem pants from Mokewen (one of my absolute favorite brands as of late) and high-lace boots. To wrap it all up, I added some simple bracelets.
Each of us only has so much time to express ourselves through style, so while you may not like what’s trending, and what you do may not be popular in your area, dress for what you want to look like. Dress for you! Not anyone else. If you’re like me, you feel your best when you’re dressed in what you love. People may question your choices, and people may not understand why you wear what you do, but at the end of the day, I encourage you all to dress for yourself first and foremost. Take risks. Push boundaries. Wear something you normally wouldn’t. After all, a little dash of daring never hurt.
