Spread the Love

One could easily argue that I have been interested in clothes almost my whole life.  Just as easily, one could say that my real experimentation began sometime between 7th and 8th grade.  I dyed the front portion of my bangs blonde (see To dye, or not to dye?), and began arranging my clothes in new ways.  I discovered the "goth" scene that one could find at Hot Topic, before it got popularized by 12 year old girls...  And so over the summer between 7th and 8th grade plaid, black-and-some-strong-color stripes, and fishnet entered my wardrobe.  Oh, and one can't forget the knee his!

But before this, I remember one incident.   This incident gave me the courage to continue experimenting.  I never would have been able to wear my 3" platform black mary janes to school if it weren't for this incident.
One morning, in 7th grade, I decided to wear this cute denim button up dress that I'd gotten from Old Navy.  It had a little denim belt attached to it and everything.  If memory serves, the dress was getting a little short.  So underneath it, I put on some golden corduroy pants.  A simple dress-over-pants combo.  But I was SO scared to wear it to school.  I thought of all the nasty things the kids would say.  I thought they would tease me, and ask me why I had put two such things together in one outfit.  So naturally, when I got to school I was surprised that nobody said anything.  Not until the last period of the day.  Some boy in my class turned to me and said that he thought my outfit looked nice, and that it was cool that I was trying an individual look.  I could have died from happiness.
Looking back, I realize that if it hadn't been for that, I probably would have waded into the waters of experimentation a lot slower than I did.  I'm sure he doesn't know what he did for me--but knowing that I had one fan, just one was enough to keep me going.


And so I ask you.  Today, if you see something creative, or out of the ordinary.  Step up and say, I like that.  Share your feeling on the subject.  You have an unrealized potential to affect others--so put it to good use.