Fashion has always been really important to me. When I was younger, fashion magazines were a magical escape to a place filled with beautiful dresses and shining jewellery. Then as I got older and started earning my own money, my love of fashion kick started my love of shopping which sent me on my way to figuring out my personal style.

My style has certainly been on a journey over the years. Like everyone else, growing up I was constantly changing my mind on what was cool and always trying to keep up with the zeitgeist. I’ve brought into so many trends, most of them including ponchos and leg warmers I’ve thankfully grown out of. But others such as double denim have stayed with me, I’m still a big fan of the Canadian tuxedo, think Justin Timberlake in 2001 minus the awful denim cowboy hat. I’ve enjoyed experimenting with clothes and learning to use my style as a way to express myself.

But, as I’ve gotten older I’ve realised how money, or more importantly in my case a lack of money, can really affect my style. When I was younger and had just started working, almost all of my wages went directly to Topshop. My manager may as well have just sent my pay check directly to Phillip Green. I would buy things spontaneously and with little thought about how versatile they would be in my ever changing wardrobe. Looking back it was not the best financially sensible or environmentally friendly use of my money. But after years spent in a boring school uniform and looking identical to 800 other girls 5 days a week, suddenly being able to construct my own identity with clothes gave me a huge sense of freedom and control. 

But, I’m not 16 anymore and I can no longer justify getting to the end of month with 15 new dresses and 21p in my bank account. At the wise age of 22 my style is going through another shift. I’ve learnt a lot about the detrimental effects that fashion, especially fast fashion, is having on the environment. I’ve also finally started to find a more permanent sense of style, I know what I like and I dress for myself, I dip in and out of trends now as oppose to reinventing my whole wardrobe because of them. I’m always trying to be more considerate when I buy clothes, making sure that they’re definitely something I’ll wear in lots of different ways and that will stand the test of time in my wardrobe. The only problem is, is that I have a lot less money to spend on fashion now which has left me in a weird situation. I have a wardrobe full of clothes that are certainly still wearable but no longer feel like me. So I feel a bit stuck. My style has naturally evolved and I want to wear things that reflect who I am now as opposed to the tartan trouser wearing 18 year old I was four years ago. I’ve realised just how important a role money plays in my personal style and in turn how well I feel I can express myself. Not being able to buy the kind of clothes I want to wear now has forced me to go back into my wardrobe and try and find a way to make what I have work. Although that’s definitely the more environmentally friendly solution, it feels frustratingly limiting to not be able to buy the clothes that align more with who I am now. 

I’ve always known that money has affected my style. A huge element of style is clothes and clothes cost money. Looking back, lots of things have affected how I dress, magazines and music to name a few. Money has always been somewhere on that list but I never realised how high up on the list it was until I had less of it.