I'd Rather Be Overdressed Than Look Like I Gave Up.

Victoria Zemanek

11 minutes ago

3 min read

I have to admit, when I first started my job at a fashion magazine in Vienna, I proudly told my roommate that this time I would look flawless every single day. I was going to wear makeup, do my hair, and always look amazing when I went to work.

It didn't take long before she saw me leaving the house in jeans rocking a bare face. When I look around on the streets, I see so many people wearing clothes that are comfortable and practical. It made me wonder: Are we, as a society, afraid to dress up?

Recently, I watched an interview with Kaia Gerber while she was promoting her new film The Shards, which is set in the '80s. On the red carpet, she talked about asking her mom if women really did their hair like that every single day. She was baffled when her mom said yes. Today, with our busy mornings, it's hard to imagine spending that much time on our hair. We're too busy trying to make it to the earliest yoga class before work. Maybe we're simply too busy to spend so much time on our appearance. Or maybe it just isn't as important anymore.

I think a big reason why we dress more casually and practically is because our lives are so busy. It's a yoga class, then work, then maybe some shopping, or rushing to the next appointment. Big hair and high heels would just get in the way.

Fashion has also become so casual that you really stand out if you wear heels or have perfectly styled hair. It no longer looks effortless. And isn't that exactly the look everybody wants to achieve today? If your style is too bold or over-the-top, you almost have to worry about ending up on someone's Instagram page. And being told you're doing too much. But isn't doing too much exactly what makes fashion fun?

Taking the time in the morning to try different, unexpected combinations and seeing what makes your day a little better. Finding the outfit that makes you feel like you could conquer the world.

Here are a few reasons why we should start putting a little more thought into fashion.

When we take a closer look inside our closets while putting an outfit together, we can really appreciate what we already have. We become more aware of the pieces we own and get to experiment with items that might otherwise be forgotten. That way, we're less likely to go out and buy the same pair of pants twice.

And enough with the "clean girl" aesthetic. I'm done seeing the same blazers, black trousers, and black-and-white outfits everywhere.

We see these looks all over Instagram, and because everyone is wearing them, we start to believe they're the trend we have to follow. But isn't fashion the one thing where everyone should stay true to their own style instead of looking like every influencer on their feed?

Don't get me wrong, influencers often have amazing style. But I think we should see today's outfits the same way we look at fashion magazines: as inspiration, not as a shopping list.

When I see a runway look from Dior's latest collection, I'm not rushing to buy every single piece. Instead, I look through my own closet and ask myself, How can I recreate this with what I already own? That's where the fun begins. I get to make it my own version instead of copying it exactly.

I think we should all start creating our own interpretation of the trends we like. Personal style has always been about making fashion your own. And if more people did that, putting effort into an outfit wouldn't feel like being overdressed; it would simply feel normal.

And soon you'd notice that nobody really cares if you wear your high heels just to go to the movies or your most beautiful dress to buy groceries. Fashion is all about how it makes you feel. If wearing something you love gives you confidence or simply makes your day a little brighter, that's reason enough to wear it. And in the end, it is all about you, nobody else.