Does Staying on Top of Fashion Trends Even Matter?
For many girls, keeping up with current fashion trends is a personal passion. For some girls, fashion is pointless. But is it? There’s a connection between wearing trendy fashions and feeling confident.
Feeling confident in your fashion choices honors God.
The Fashion Industry
The fashion industry introduces new trends every season, leading girls to purchase the latest fad. Where does this obsession with trends and fashion come from? Our society has placed a rather high standard on appearance and youthfulness. Fashion is a significant part of that criteria. Fashion is a huge industry that makes money off of insecurities by informing patrons that looking a certain way provides success, value and worth. People who buy into this theory spend lots of money trying to keep up with the changing trends, desperately trying to fit a shallow mode. The celebrity and high fashion culture push this idea of following the latest trends no matter the cost.
Having this narrow perspective of beauty constantly portrayed can damage your self-esteem. Being fed images of celebrities in skin tight dresses is intimidating, leaving you feeling inadequate since you don’t look the same. Perhaps you may not know, Hollywood images are carefully executed. Celebrities wear dresses that suit their body type, which were carefully selected by a professional stylist. The celebrity has a personal trainer and nutritionist who helps her maintain her body size. Plus, nearly every image of her is altered or touched-up before publishing. You can’t afford the dress she’s wearing, nor can you spend your entire day at the gym, so the industry tells you to buy her lipstick for only $50 instead. If you’re unaware of this reality, it’s easy to become obsessed with trying to fit a certain mold. Or perhaps you totally withdraw from it all, not giving your appearance a second thought.
Styling Your Fashion
Even though the fashion industry hasn’t done a good job of fueling your self-esteem, it doesn’t mean the fashion industry and trends should be completely ignored. It’s important to note that there’s a difference between fashion and STYLE. Fashion is about keeping up with the latest trends, celebrities and fads (what’s in and what’s out). Style, on the other hand, is using clothes to represent who you are and how you feel about yourself. Style is taking bits and pieces from different places and establishing your own identity. Demonstrating your identity doesn’t rely entirely on attire, but clothes can be a healthy outward expression. Think about style as the ambassador of who you are to whoever you meet.
Why Fashion is Important in Your Relationship with God
Glorious Style
If style demonstrates your personality, and you identify as a Christian, then clothes can be used to honor God. Psalm 139:14 says that you are fearfully and wonderfully made. God also said man looks at the outward appearance, but He looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). God created you in His image (Genesis 1:26). He is glorious and beautiful! Therefore, you are too! Not caring for yourself and your appearance certainly doesn’t reflect God. But neither does constantly keeping up with trends. There’s a healthy balance between self-love and self-obsession.
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Find My Style
You can and should experiment with trends because fashion is fun and, if worn the right way, can help build self-confidence. Now is the time to explore different fashions because you’re still discovering who you are and who God made you to become. The balance is in knowing your body, personality and not taking things too seriously.
Try on and experiment with various trends to discover what works best for you. Find styles that complement your body type. You don’t necessarily need to stray from those styles, even as they go in and out of fashion. A style that accents your natural beauty is a keeper. But, be aware that your body is still changing. What looks great on you today might frustrate you tomorrow. You don’t need to throw it out. Instead, come back to it later and see if it works again.
Find colors that accent your skin tone, hair and eye color. Wear clothes that make you feel comfortable because they match your personality. All these elements help express your identity – whether you’re bright and cheery, girly, edgy or athletic. Always honor your Maker with what you wear.
Everything is not made for everyone. That’s why it’s so important to know your body type. It can be incredibly discouraging to find clothes that fit right. Don’t give up, because when you find an outfit that works for you, it reminds you and everyone else who you truly are. When your personality is reflected on the outside, you radiate true beauty.
Confident Fashion
Fashion isn’t just for the perfectly coifed celebrity. It’s for everyone, so take cues from the rich and famous as well as the girl next door. If you don’t believe a fashion trend will work for you, don’t dismiss it before you’ve given it a try. That’s the point of fashion. It’s an opportunity to discover and build confidence.
Yes, Hollywood has tricks to make people look like perfect tens, but part of the attraction is confidence. Celebrities and models exude confidence when standing on the red carpet or walking the runway. When you look good, you feel good. That confidence comes from the truth: God created you as His unique and beautiful daughter. There’s no one else in the world like you, so own it! Wear those heels sitting in the back of your closet, do your hair in a high pony, try on the floral dress you saw in the window that you were too intimidated to try on.
Don’t be afraid to have fun with trends. Style is only a fraction of expressing who you are and who God created you to be. Model His beauty – in a sequin top and sparkly heels – or black worker boots and flannel plaid – or a striped shirt and red lips – or Nike sneakers and a cute zip-up hoodie – whatever fits YOU!
