Social media and cultural influences on daily fashion choices

¶ … Social Media Influence

Monday -- The night before, I browse different style bloggers on the web. So after having looked at Chiara Ferragni's Paris fashion week outfits, I want to start my week off with fashionable outfits. Monday is when I have class all day and see most of my friends. Thus, I set my alarm for extra early so I can take more time for my appearance as I start the week. Inspired by Ferragni, I made an extra effort to style myself by accessorizing my outfits with a hat and an over-sized scarf and lots of jewelry. I felt very comfortable and confident in my appearance: the extra effort paid off.

DAY 2 TUESDAY

Parents

Tuesday - My parents are visiting this week and they are a huge inspiration as everything they wear fascinates and inspires me. My mother has always been interested in fashion and has an effortless chic look to her; as for my father he always looks very dapper and smart. I always aim to please them. That is why I choose an oversized white shirt with tight black leggings and high thigh black boots. I also add an oversized red scarf to make my outfit look less serious and more youthful (they always joke how I dress too old for my age). I took time to choose this outfit as I have not seen them for a while and want to look presentable as they are visiting me in my new home. Moreover, these dress choices I make are all due to my heritage and cultural upbringing. For example, Arab women really take time in their appearance and hardly ever look scruffy.

DAY 3 WEDNESDAY:

Messy / work day

Thursday- I have been working all day and have not had the chance to even look at myself in the mirror. When I work I put on my most comfortable sweat pants but no matter how comfortable I am I always have to color coordinate my outfit. Even if I don't plan on seeing anyone, I can't help it: I have to coordinate. So I wore my loosest grey sweatpants and a baggy white t-shirt with white converse. I felt so comfortable as everything was a loose fit and nothing was clingy.

DAY 5 FRIDAY:

Friends Birthday

Friday-Today is my friend's birthday and we are all going for dinner and celebrating at a fun restaurant. I look in my evening section wardrobe and pick two dresses. First is a sparkly long-sleeved skin tight dress. However, as I try it on I realize it won't work: the last time I wore it was in summer when I had a tan and was slimmer. I decide to go for the other: a simple black dress (that is also skintight but a lot more flattering). I made it more fun with little boots and a blue suede jacket.

Day 6 SATURDAY:

Gym day

Saturday- I wake up early and go to the gym. I make a lot more of an effort for this wardrobe as I am meeting my parents straight after at a cafe for brunch. Therefore I put on a fun pair of workout leggings and a loose-fitted black top with Nike trainers. I love these leggings as they are super tight and make my legs look skinnier than they are. They are high-waisted too so they also flatten my stomach. I carry a black cardigan in my handbag post-workout.

Day 7 SUNDAY:

Pajama day

Sunday- I am in an over-sized loose t-shirt with shorts from the night before. This t-shirt is extremely comfortable as it was my dad's and makes me feel really comfortable and happy in it. I plan on staying in it till my early dinner with my parents where I decide on wearing leggings and a loose jumper, something I can easily take off before going straight to bed (I have class early the next morning).

Final reflection:

Having documented my dress log for the week, I noticed in myself that I really do focus a lot on wearing clothes that flatter my body. Further, my Arab heritage is definitely reflected in my style; however, there is a strong European flair that comes from living in London. I love wearing black but I love juxtaposing it with a bold color. Still, I feel particularly aware of my body when I wear something daring. Many things run through my mind, such as: Am I revealing too much? Do I look fat in this?

Further, I really do try and put myself together well as I grew up surrounded by stylish and elegant women. So fashion and the way I dress myself is always an important part of my everyday life.

I love being comfortable, and love looking skinny . Bu most importantly I find these words from Sophie Woodward to ring most true for me: " As a woman stands looking at her wardrobe, the relationship is primarily visual, entailed by the physical distance ... More often than not, women resolve this distance through wearing items they know will work or through the often lengthy processes of trying on multiple items (40). To me, this gets to the heart of what dressing is all about: the process of defining ourselves in a visual way that stimulates the seer and draws them into the relationship that the woman is cultivating.

Another way to look at it is like this: "Articulation provides a sense of temporary closure ... the look is ephemeral. It works for now ... " (Kaiser 6). This is how I feel about my wardrobe choices. Everything has a context. This is the agency. I don't experience a lot of restriction because I embrace the challenges of the context and am confident that I can always meet and overcome them. Thus, I always feel great in my clothes -- except when I'm out in a tight dress and overeat at dinner!