Last weekend, my husband and I were driving around running errands and on the way to BORDERS I had a thought and I thought to myself- I need to blog about this!
I moved to Houston with two suitcases. Yes. Two suitcases, that’s it. My entire life in those two suitcases. I had lived with my mom throughout college so I didn’t really have a ton of “stuff of my own” I just came with clothes and other meaningful belongings. I must admit my suitcases were big and they were both well over 50 lbs, but still…that’s a small amount of space for 23 years of your life to fit into.
Thinking about that got me thinking about the evolution of my personal style and shopping habits. I have shopped a lot since I started to work…but what I never realized was that I kind of had to start from scratch.
I didn’t have dress pants, skirts (aside from denim minis) and nice clothes for work. In college I wore jeans, LuluLemon pants, dresses, hoodies, t-shirts and UGGS. I didn’t really have a sense of style back then other than comfy, cute, casual (the 3 c’s!). I just shopped at Abercrombie & Fitch and American Eagle and went with what was comfy for my daily commutes to campus.
The truth is, when I moved here and started to work, I didn’t know how to dress for the real world, nor did I have a work wardrobe. I was initially in the nonprofit world where offices are more casual (sometimes, um, a bit too casual).
I noticed once I got my current position, I became much more into shopping. I wanted to make sure I had the right clothes for the office- classic pieces like black pencil skirts, versatile black dresses, cardigans, silk blouses, dress shirts etc. Those are things I didn’t own when I moved here.
When I moved here, I started a new chapter of my life. In the last three and a half years I’ve grown and changed in so many ways and a small part of that is just in the way I present myself. The jeans, hoodies and flip flops are still around, of course…but as I look in my closet now, 95% of what I see was accumulated over the last three and a half years.
It feels kind of crazy to think about that. I joked to my husband that I don’t shop a lot because I “came here with nothing.” He didn’t buy it! I had to try, right?
I sometimes hear about people who have things in their closets from ten or 15 years ago. Unless it’s a classic piece, I tend to donate or sell a lot of my closet. Styles change, your circumstances sometimes change leading you to need or want a new look…your personal sense of style evolves.
So tell me, lovely readers, how has your personal style evolved in the last 5 years or so? I’d love to hear about what you were wearing 3-5 years ago compared to now…or maybe just how your personal preferences have changed over the years.
Couture and Crayons says
You still had style as Vintage Veronika. =) Your style has to evolve as your life changes. Wait until you have kids. 😉
Janice (Couture and Crayons)
A.Co says
Two suitcases?! WOW!!! I mean, from your description, that's fair enough, but still!
I think we all evolve year after year. I've always been into fashion and clothing, BUT, with every year, I learn more and style myself better, take more risks… step outside of the (my own) box, etc.
I know the pictures you showed us here are 'older', but still look like something you could still rock… but then again, I'm a huge fan of Uggs 😉
A.Co @ A.Co est. 1984
[email protected] says
I love UGGS too they are so comfy! I find myself also evolving every year and learning what I like more and more 🙂
Beautygirl24 says
Haha, love the last pic =)
This was a great post V. I have been thinking a lot recently that my style continues to evolve all the time. A few years ago, I was just like you – I wore hoodies, flip flops, and never wore heels! Now, I can't imagine going back to that. Not that I don't still dress casually sometimes, because I still wear flip flops and I do own a couple hoodies. But I definitely love clothes and shopping in a way I never used to. I always want to look my best, whereas when I was younger, I didn't care! I'm actually bummed that I can't wear fancy, more sophisticated clothes to my new job. Nope, just jeans and tees (I'm working with younger kids now and so need to be able to keep up with them.) Hopefully one day that will change! I still will dress up a lot outside of work, because that's what makes me feel my best.
inthepinkofthings says
your hair was so short!
amelia
https://inthepinkofthings.wordpress.com/
[email protected] says
@amelia- I know! I can't believe it is in the middle of my back now!
Sally says
I get ALOT of flack for busting out my Uggs during the winter but I happen to think that they are not only super comfortable but cute as well!
PS
Cute post 🙂
Polyvorina says
I actually had the reverse style evolution, lol! I went from high school to a corporate job so my wardrobe was all suits, blouses, pants and heels. Plus some going-out clothes. Then I left work for university. Good choice life-wise, bad one style-wise! Now I basically rotate jeans and a couple pairs of sweats or yoga pants with tees and sweaters. But being a student, I can't even update those. It's not pretty. 😉
Michelle S says
My style drastically changed this year! I got rid of about half of my closet this last June. I used to shop at Abercrombie a lot too. I needed a more mature wardrobe.
This past summer, I was re-introduced to Forever 21 and H&M. I started buying pieces that I can dress- down or dress-up without any much effort. I also noticed that I have more heels now. I used to just wear flip-flops in the summer and Uggs in the winter.
Jazzy Cazy says
I had a similar story coming to the US with about 3 suitcases. But a lot of my wardrobe has some classic pieces, I have a lot of black skirts, some really gorgeous jackets but there certainly is some percentage that I have outgrown.
Interesting post V… the photos are classic!
xjcx
Miavitabella0248 says
I've lost 80lbs in the last year. Before the weight loss I just bought whatever because my cofidence level was 0 to none and I shopped at a grand total of 3 stores for clothes. Fast forward to now, I've come a long way. I longed to shop at places like F21; now I can and I do. In fact I shop at F21, H&M, AE, Express, Juicy Couture, and what seems to be that I can go wherever I want in the mall. These stores were the ones that I wanted to express my style with. This is how I evolved in the last year. Thanks for this post, it was great!
Jaimie
Nalas says
I have always been into fashion – nice things… then I had a baby in 2008. I used to be a size 2 petite pre-baby and I am now a size 10 (ugh!!) Needless to say, the past 2 years have been awful for me shopping wise. Nothing fits my new found figure 🙁 I have since turned to Tory Burch Reva's (8 pairs!!!) and TB purses because you don't have to be thin to wear those. July we moved to Alaska (husband is military) and all I see are Columbia and North Face. YUCK!!!!!
PS: I never comment on here, but you are adorable 🙂
Ella Pretty says
Love that tweed jacket in the last pic – it's so chic!
I think my style has become "fussier" over the past 5 years. For a while, I was really into elegant and classic basics. I didn't want to clutter up my look with attention-grabbing accessories. It was all about simple shapes and delicate jewelry.
Now I'm loving accessories – scarves, bracelets, belts etc. I love seeing trends and buying new clothes – but rather than just buying bits and pieces on sale, I have a plan of what look I want to achieve, and buy according to my plan 🙂
Whitney says
Veronika, it's funny because I was feeling that way soon after getting married this summer. I graduated in May and had been living with my parent's until I got married. I have always had an interest in fashion, but don't have much of a wardrobe. Now that I'm working and out on my own, I really want to delve more into it and build up a wardrobe that showcases my style.
http://www.sparklesandfrosting.blogspot.com
Kristen says
That is crazy to think of moving to a new country to live with only 2 suitcases! Wow! I know what you mean about having to build a work wardrobe from scratch! I spent every dime I had to move to a new city after college and start a job near my then boyfriend (now husband) and he lent me $150 to buy some basics to wear to work because I literally had nothing!
Andi says
What a great story V!
So impressive that you moved to a new country with only 2 bags.
My style has definitely changed over the past 5 years. I have rebuilt it entirely, got rid of my office and going out lol clothes, and filled it with more classics that are versatile enough to wear different ways. Having kids and leaving my career definitely has called for several reinventions wardrobe-wise 🙂
xoxo
Diana says
I wouldn't say that my personal style has changed as much as I would say that it's become more limited. This past spring I ended up dropping off about 5 or 6 large, black garbage bags at a local clothing & shoe donation bin. A lot of the clothing I had to get rid of because the pieces were ill fitting, and some of them because I felt they were just too juvenile. At 25, I'm unfortunately still stuck between juniors' & women's sizes – a lot of juniors clothing is too small or too short, but women's/misses sizes are still too big on me, so it's difficult for me to find clothing that fits me well while still being something that I like. My closet right now consists of a lot of basics. I find that I can't really find many fun and trendy pieces that fit me accordingly. It sucks and makes shopping and getting dressed in the morning very frustrating – I've actually cried over my lack of selection and generally will put on at least 3 different outfits every morning before settling on one, and I hate it for the rest of the day.
I really like your hair blonde and shorter. It looks great on you.
[email protected] says
diana- it's funny you say that because most people admitted to me that when I went back to brown they like me better as a brunette. I prefer myself with long brown hair as well but the blonde was fun for awhile. It's just way too high maintenance for my lifestyle now 🙂
Ann Taylor and other stores have petities sections…have you tried those?
kendell says
I MOVED 4 YEARS AGO AND I HAD 5 DIFFERENT OUTFITS! THAT'S IT THEN I GOT A JOB AT A BANK BUT DIDN'T OWN ANY OFFICE CLOTHES. NOW I FEEL SO BLESSED WITH EVERYTHING I HAVE I EVEN HELP A GIRL IN GUATEMALA WITH A MONTHLY DONATION FOR SCHOOL CLOTHES AND SHOES.
IT FEELS GREAT =)
Lori says
This is a really great post. Five years ago, I had just found out I was pregnant and was finishing my last year of grad school. Comfy and cute was my only dressing requirement. Three years ago, I found out I was pregnant again. By that time I had grown accustomed to living in elastic waist pajama pants and sweats. I stayed with that uniform until the beginning of this year when I resolved to stop wearing my sweats as daily attire.
Now I have a mom-style blog that I started to help me stick with my resolution. It's crazy how drastically things can change from one year to the next.
nomoresweatpants.blogspot.com
violetsage says
I am with you on this one. I moved with a car full of clothes and hadn't ever even tried on anything professional. Kudos for us growing up!
Anonymous says
the first picture of you – SO adorable!
🙂
Mere says
I'd have to say in the last 5 years, my style has grown up as much as I have. I used to be American Eagle, Abercrombie, Hollister and now I am Banana, Ann Taylor, and Anthro. My lifestlye went from College to CPA and that shows. I love how I dressed then but I love how I dress now for where I am in life (i.e. walking into Abercrombie makes me feel ancient, lol). I love having these ah-ha moments that make us so appreciative.
Sheila says
5 years ago I was in my second year of college so I wore lots of jeans, flips flops, graphic tees, lots of hoodies. Those are all things I still incoperate into my wardrobe but since I have begun working out regularly I think I am starting to find my love of clothes and shopping again. I now go shopping now once or twice a month to build a wardrobe of go pieces now that I work in the professional world. I just began reading your blog and love that its like a guide for me to learn about fashion and playing with trends and using peices in different ways! Hopefully over some time, I will have an idea of what my personal style has become.
omoplata! says
oooo v what if you did a post on your career clothes must haves? I struggle so much with building a basic career wardrobe. the items i pick end up being too trendy and i cannot play them down enough to make them work in the office. i have often wished there was some 'career clothes must have' foundation list i could google and then just hunt those items down.
Nikki says
I moved across the country (west coast to east coast) to live with someone I met online and fell in love with.. five years later we're happier than ever but I hear you on the two suitcases thing.. I brought 2 suitcases of clothes and my cat with me, and that was it! I'd say my style has evolved a lot and has actually stream lined. I love classic, basic pieces and only really go 'trendy' to get cheap accessories, etc. When I was younger I definitely didn't mind buying more trendy clothing (shirts, jeans, coats) even if they'd be out of style a season later.
...love Maegan says
I just wanted to thank you for saying nice things about me in that ridiculously mean forum/thread about me on The Nest …thank you. That was brutal. I don't think I was expecting it at all. People can be so mean for no reason at all.
MsHark says
Really cute post V! I love the first picture, you look so carefree and happy! I *love* your hair long but I also love it in the last pic – your hair cut there is so cute!
Steph