Vive la Difference!

Stand out: Be true to your stylish self

What do Sienna Miller and Gwen Stefani have in common? Besides having hugely successful careers and being über-cool chicks, each has been applauded for her unique style. Going against the fashion current that Hollywood dictates is no easy feat and going against the current in your teen years can be just as daunting. There is always pressure to conform your style, regardless of whom you hang with: preppies, mods, skaters or punks. How do you know when you have compromised your own style comfort zone? When you start listening too much to your friends and their thoughts on your hair and wardrobe, rather than your independent spirit. Remember, the only person you have to please is you, so let your unique fashionista shine through!

Don’t Let Your Duds Define You
We all know fashion is a powerful tool and we live in a world where people typically judge a book by its cover. So why not beat them at their own game by dressing in
a way that clearly represents who you are and what you stand for? Though it does sound good in theory, sometimes putting this idea to work can be a challenge, thanks to overwhelming peer pressure.
“When I was growing up, it was cool to be different and put together outfits that made you stand out,” relates Toronto fashionista Eve Oliwiak. “Today, it seems there is a lot of pressure for everyone to wear the same labels, and if you don’t there seems to be a certain level of unacceptance.” Unfortunately this pressure can result in a lack of self-expression and a feeling of the need to conform. But remember our girls Sienna and Gwen? If they caved into wearing conventional clothing, think how boring the fashion world would be!
Our advice: be a Sienna or a Gwen and stand up for your right to dress your own unique way. I can still vividly remember the looks I used to get for wearing my little vintage dresses over flared pants, but I never let those stares get to me. As a matter of fact, I had a term I used to describe those teens that tried to put me into one of their predictable style moulds:“style bullies.” They come in all shapes, styles and sizes and their goal is to put others down in order to make themselves feel better. I didn’t care what they said about me or my clothes, hair and makeup, because I knew deep down inside that someone who is secure in himself or herself would never put another person down. Enough said.

Confidence is Key!
Down the road of life, confidence will get you everywhere, especially when we are talking about image. Confidence is something only you can create. No group of friends (no matter how popular they are) or rack of clothes (no matter how expensive!) can give you confidence—it comes from inside you! If you’ve got it, the world looks up to you, and when it comes to your look, you can pull off anything—because you have the guts to make it work.
Toronto teen Abigale says it was her confidence that ultimately helped her break through her friends’ peer pressure to wear certain labels—ones that at times were out of her price range and more frequently out of her style zone. “I started to feel like a bit of a clone, because I looked the same as all of my friends,” she shares. “It finally got to a point where I had enough and I had to break away from my friends’ narrow-minded thinking. I started wearing clothes more in my price range, but more importantly, I wore clothes that reflected my personal style. It felt amazing to finally be myself.”
Abigale raises a valuable point: the best way to counter peer pressure is to take a good look at your friends and ask yourself, are they really your friends? True friends don’t care what you wear or how you wear it—they like you for you! Remember, people change and grow in different directions. Maybe you and your BFF aren’t on the same wave anymore? It could be time to move on…

Be A Leader
You’ve got the clothes and the confidence, now it’s time to get into the groove. Think of yourself as a fashion leader, not a follower. The more you see yourself in this role, the more comfortable you will become about yourself and your fashion decisions. Be proud of who you are and what makes you, well, you! People will respect you for it and you may even find yourself with your own fashion following à la Sienna and Gwen.
“I was always very confident and never caved into peer fashion pressure,” recalls Alison McGill, editor-in-chief of FASHION18.
“I found that because I was an individual and wasn’t at all shy about expressing that, my peers appreciated me for it and were always wondering what I would wear next.”
Think of it that way: your unique fashion sense could spark others’ curiosity and encourage them to explore their inner fashionista. Take a hint from style maven Tammy Eckenswiller, fashion editor for Toronto’s FASHION Magazine. “I think it is important to dress in the way that makes you feel happy,” she smiles. “I have always enjoyed, and still enjoy, putting different outfits together to mix up my look. I think it is a great way to express yourself. You have to stop worrying about what people or your friends say and enjoy who you are.” So take the plunge and express the uniqueness of you!

Sara Duck

Illustration Bella Pilar

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