Trying Different Aesthetics for 5 days

 

From school security to disapproving grandmas, here’s how my week went…

 

In case you missed my last blog “7 seconds (part 1),” here’s a quick recap. I decided that for 4 days I would wear 4 different aesthetics in order to better see how popular trends impact the perceptions people have on those around them. I did my research and decided I would focus on e-girls, granola girls, Bad n’ Boujee, and Baby Chanel. I felt each of these four aesthetics represented different values as well as different social connections (which I talked about in part one). 

 

These were my outfit plans:

 

E-Girl “Gothy alternative vibe”	Black pants Silver chain belt Cropped graphic tee layered with long sleeve Black combat boots choker
Granola “Chill and outdoor ready”	Leggings Hiking boots Sweatshirt Oversized denim jacket Braid
Bad N’ Boujee “chic”	Fashion Nova jeans (black) Knee high boots (black) Hoops Purse FUR Sunglasses (not for school sadly)
Baby Chanel “preppy”	Yellow Two Piece Loose curled hair Light beat Black heels White socks Purse not backpack

 

DAY 1: BABY CHANEL

Getting Ready: I did not like having to do all this makeup and hair for school. Normally, I will wake up at 6:15 in order to shower, finish homework, eat, and be in the car by 7:25. Today, I woke up at 5:45 and I was LATE. I did a full face however and curled my hair pageant style, meaning as I curled I would pin the roots up for volume. Part of me enjoyed the process, I played some music and had a little me time, but part of me would have preferred 30 more minutes of sleep.

 

School: When I got to school, I was wearing a long black coat and I was carrying a purse instead of a backpack. As I’m walking from to 1st period (LATE), one of the newer building administrators asks me where my visitors’ badge was. Long story short I had to fish through my bag to find my school ID in order to prove I was a student. Passing periods were embarrassing because of the purse, every look was either who the hell does she think is from people I didn’t know or ‘Cush you’re doing too much’ for people I did know. Another positive, the sound of approaching heels in the hallway means no gross freshman sucking each other’s faces off in the stairwells for fear that Posey is incoming. 

 

After School: I want to put on warm sweats right now. Usually, when I wear a dress to school, I immediately change out of it. So my pores feel clogged, I am cold, and when I went to Jewel for a Monster energy, the guy behind me in the checkout was acting a little creepy, (Yeah, I think I can handle a case of four cans). 

 

Final thoughts: The big takeaways from today, older and nicer. People just saw me for the first time though I was older than I was and that I seemed to be the type who enjoys small talk, which usually doesn’t happen to me. The purse? Kind of a power move. I feel like people thought I’d had my life together a lot more than I actually do and I also feel like people almost felt obliged to compliment me because they felt that I had put so much effort in. Overall,  I enjoyed it. Dressing like I was put together made me want to have it together.   

 

DAY 2: BAD N’ BOUJEE

Getting Ready: Armed with yesterday’s curls and the muscle memory of yesterday’s makeup application. I found that the hair and face look was pretty similar adding only winged eyeliner and contour to really accentuate the resting bitch face (a crucial part of the look, https://www.cnn.com/2016/02/03/health/resting-bitch-face-research-irpt/index.html) while yesterday I wanted to look more bright eyed.  I did have to wake up early again but today I had pants and a warm faux pink fur jacket so I felt more comfortable.

 

School: I will say school wise, I got the least comments on this outfit because jeans, knee high boots and some kind of jacket is like my winter uniform already. The only thing people commented on was my jacket, and the comments were mostly positive.

 

After School: I got coffee with a friend and while ordered instead of the usual light chatter, the barista was dead silent. Same when I ran out to Jewel. I had never realized that on the day-to-day people don’t try to make small talk with me. I only realized because yesterday when I was really preppy people approached me. 

 

Overall: I enjoy the functionality of this look. I was warm and comfy all day. I didn’t feel under or overdressed, but I definitely noticed that compared to yesterday I came across as more unapproachable or mean to others. I can definitely see how a fur coat and sunglasses in winter would cause that dynamic or stereotype, but it’s important to note when certain looks are better than others, maybe baby chanel is a better first impression.

 

DAY 3: GRANOLA GIRL

My photo won’t upload but enjoy this inspo pic.

Getting Ready: This took 15 minutes, I showered, put on sunscreen,  did hygiene stuff and then got dressed. I got more sleep and I felt fine about the whole routine.

 

School: I fElT fInE. BULLCRAP. I understand the outfit is very normal for teens today, but I felt so underdressed and uncomfortable. Which to me brought up the point that even if you don’t care about other’s perspectives, you should definitely care about how you feel in what you wear and what you think it says about you. I felt this outfit didn’t speak to my personality at all.

 

After school: Buttttt I was so comfortable, I had a 3-hour rehearsal today and I did not have to fight the urge to change once.

 

Overall: I hated this look save one thing. Obviously the granola look is usually tied to a greater cause. So for my accessories, I sported Kid’s Seed Beaded bracelets (https://warchestboutique.com/products/us-training-center-kids-seed-bead-bracelet-md-107279) from War Chest boutique, which enables girls and women in impoverished countries to generate income to create independence. Buying a bracelet is a small thing, but I do want to become more aware of what I buy and where it comes from. So maybe granola wasn’t all bad.

 

DAY 4: E girl

Getting Ready: Nope. Nopenopenopenope. I hate putting liner in my waterline. I hate this shirt. I hate combat boots. I hate this silver choker. I feel like an imposter. And I do not want to wear this for an hour let alone a whole day. 

 

School: I got raised eyebrows from school folk today but people have caught on to what I’m doing I feel like so they aren’t saying as much. But one of my freshmen from PE leading liked the look. Very “bold” and “on point” according to her. Thanks? I want to crawl into a hole.

 

After School: Okayyyyy Boomer….. I never thought I would defend the e-girl look, but the woman behind me at Chipotle started a rant about how teenagers are “going off the deep end” all starting with “young lady what is on your shirt? All black never made a girl more attractive.” Now granted the boomer comment is off because she was like 80-ish but the idea stands. If a trend or look makes you happy, wear it. If that means chains and band shirts, all the power to you.

 

Overall: I am never wearing this again. But I did love the individuality, I made an impression on the people around me and that is what style is all about. 

 

 I was surprised at how different each day went and how each look brought different roadblocks and, surprisingly enough, different elements I enjoyed. Moral of the story is, like it or not style reflects a little of who you are and we should embrace that. Yes, there are perks to dressing more preppy and more judgment if you dress differently but that’s not enough of a reason to shy away. You are unique, why not show that to the world.