I am not your typical female. Fashion bewilders me. My friends and family members all chide me for not having a fashion sense.
But I like my jeans and sneakers. Still, comfort is not professional.
For the past two days, I have trekked through H&M and New York and Company. My lack of fashion sense angered my sister, and confused the poor sales clerks in both stores.
When asked about what I liked, I replied I did not know.
“How do you not know?” said my frustrated sister. “Even I know what I like!”
I can tell you why. In high school, I barely knew the word fashion. I was the editor of my school newspaper who spent more time glued to her computer writing articles than reading the latest fashion trend. Now it has come back to haunt me.
I’m not going to be the next fashionista. Nevertheless, after two exhausting days, I have acquired a number of outfits that, according to the sales clerk, I can “mix and match.”
What does mix and match even mean? You do not want me mixing and matching without supervision. Or before my morning cup of coffee.
Two of my oldest friends recently informed me that they had thought about sending a tape of me into the show What Not to Wear. They said my “lack of insight into my own fashion style is a problem.”
Can you achieve your own style in your 20s? I sure hope so. Maybe some fashion queen will take pity on me and go shopping alongside me. I’m always curious how some women can instantly decide an outfit is perfect in less than 10 seconds.
It takes me a lot longer than that. I’ve been known to stall for hours. I have no clue what I like, and no clue what I dislike. Even with my sister, mother, and three sales clerks in attendance!
I am a fashion mess. I’m starting to think I’m missing a girl gene - what do you think?
~Stacy Lipson
Philadelphia,PA
stacy.lipson@temple.edu
