The Fabric of Me: How I Built Confidence In My Style
I think of fashion like a scrapbook, each outfit a diary entry.
Memories cling to fabric, nostalgia stitched into every hem. Each fashion era is woven together to form a tapestry of colours, styles, and of course - some questionable decisions. Most importantly, each look holds a version of you that you’ve grown through - a snapshot of who you were, and who you’ll soon become.
As a fashion girly myself, it’s safe to say I’ve been through my fair share of different ‘eras’ when it comes to style. As you can imagine, a lot of these eras I would not like to remember (my 2018 era still haunts me to this day).
But that’s the thing when it comes to fashion - it is never linear. As you grow and change, your style follows suit. Soon, you start to work out who you are and how you wish to express yourself. It’s a process of trial and error - experimenting with aesthetics, finding the perfect silhouette for your body, and refining the staple items that make you feel like the most confident version of yourself.
If you want to find out more about my fashion journey, as well as some of my favourite staple pieces, then please keep reading!
How I Found My Style
My early wardrobe consisted of many patterns, styles, and some interesting colour combinations.
For me, the early pages of my scrapbook are a mismatch of fast-fashion trends, bright colours, and a whole lot of Primark. From camo cargos to patterned flares and tartan trousers (don’t ask), my wardrobe has seen it all. Don’t get me wrong, a lot of these styles were somewhat trendy at the time. So what was the problem? Well, everything I wore never truly felt like me.
It would take me a few more years to figure out what ‘me’ actually translated to in terms of my wardrobe. As both my confidence and my style began to grow, I stopped chasing every trend and started choosing pieces that just felt right on my body.
I started to really look at the small details: what shape flatters my frame the most? What patterns actually suit me? What items make me feel really good? These early discoveries became the building blocks of the first wardrobe I truly loved - the first one that felt like mine. Although my style has evolved slightly since then, this foundation became the blueprint for every version of my wardrobe since:
The Hourglass Silhouette
I quickly learnt which silhouettes flattered me the most and gave me that instant confidence boost. As a girl with a larger cup size, I realised that oversized, boxy tops were just not doing me any favours - they seemed to drown my frame and gave me that dreaded rectangle shape.
I eventually found that the hourglass silhouette suited me most, which meant proportionally dressing the top and bottom of my body while defining the waistline. I said goodbye to mom jeans, boxy tops, and baggy cargos. In their place, I introduced bodycon dresses, midi skirts, high-waisted trousers, bootcut jeans, and slim-fitting tops that soon became staples in my wardrobe. My outfits became more structured, more balanced, and actually celebrated my shape rather than hiding it under ill-fitting clothing.
Neutral Colour Palette
As you can already tell, my early wardrobe was very colourful, full of right reds, bold prints, and clashing colour combinations. At the time, it was fun and expressive while I was figuring out my style, but these mismatched colours never felt like they reflected my true self. I soon realised that for me, less is more.
That’s when I started leaning toward neutral colours and warm tones. With my olive skin tone, I gravitated towards black, crisp whites, rich browns, soft beige, and khaki greens. I wanted my clothing to complement my skin, not to overwhelm it. To this day, my wardrobe still consists of a neutral palette bursting with various shades of browns, beige, and whites - these colours feel elegant, simple, and give a hint of that quiet luxury vibe.
Golden Girl
A major way that I elevated my wardrobe was through my jewellery. For years, I was a silver girl, through and through. Big silver hoops and boho rings were very much my thing - that was until I started introducing gold items to my collection. As my style evolved, I realised that the warm tone of the gold was a perfect match for my skin tone, as well as for the more earthy, neutral palette of my clothing.
As I began layering gold necklaces, curating a selection of gold rings, and obsessing over chunky earrings, I found that my jewellery was the perfect finishing touch - adding a sense of luxury and effortless bohemian vibes to each of my outfits.
70’s Aesthetic
As my style blossomed and changed through each era, there was always an underlying aesthetic that I unknowingly gravitated towards - the 70’s. I’m not talking oversized round glasses and head-to-toe florals (though I can appreciate the drama), but rather it was those subtle 70’s silhouettes that kept cropping up in my daily fits.
Not to be dramatic, but bootcut jeans changed my life - seriously. They balanced my proportions, gave that hourglass silhouette, and made me look effortlessly put together. Since then, they have since become a non-negotiable in my wardrobe. Alongside my beloved jeans, I find myself reaching for long boho skirts, leather jackets, crochet tops, and platform boots - pieces that all carry that feminine, vintage energy.
The more I refined my wardrobe, the more I realised I was borrowing elements from this era again and again. The mix of curvy silhouettes and boho material felt very me, and I haven’t looked back since. (Also, getting curtain bangs and layers in my hair also helped me embrace this 70’s vibe!).
My Current Style
Jump to the current day, and my style has become more refined, yet still follows that same blueprint. The recently popular ‘Quiet Luxury’ trend really resonated with my style and encouraged me to continue building a timeless, capsule wardrobe. Linen waistcoats, maxi dresses, tailored pieces, and of course - leopard print - are huge favourites of mine at the moment.
The luxury of the neutral wardrobe, combined with that subtle boho 70’s look, is how I best describe my current style. It’s simple, it’s girly, it’s elegant - but most of all, it makes me feel the most confident. I’ve finally reached a place where I feel genuinely at home - in both my skin and my style. See some of my recent lookbooks here:
What I’ve learnt over the years is that your fashion choices can either make you stand out or blend in - and that doesn’t just come down to the clothes alone. Beauty shines from your confidence, your smile, your glow.
Clothes help us to carry that confidence. When you look good, you feel good - you carry yourself differently. You stop doubting and you start owning your walk. That’s when fashion becomes more than just fabric; it’s a reflection of who you are at that moment. As long as you are yourself, then your confidence is sure to come oozing through.
My Staple Items
I’ve highlighted some of my key staple items below - these are the types of pieces that I reach for time and again!
M&S
Patch Pocket Flare High Waisted Jeans
£39.50
Hollister
Linen-blend Waistcoat
£25.95
Pull&Bear
Panelled White Midi Skirt
£25.99
Stradivarius
Leopard Print V-Neck Tee
£15.99
Cotton On
Staple Midi Skirt in Sage
Oh Polly
Ainslee, Modal Square-Neck Midi Dress in Chocolate Brown
£52
Topshop
Textured Faux Leather Oversized Collar Bomber
£74
Adidas
Originals Handball Spezial Gum Sole Trainers in Brown
£90
