Some people in this world are natural born artists. I have some friends who in their free time will simply “doodle for fun” and come up with what looks like the latest piece from Picasso. I cannot draw. Some people are incredible writers, who let their inner thoughts flow on the page. I am not much of a writer. Somehow, everyone needs a way of expression. I just had to do some searching before I knew how to show others who I am.

It turns out I could find my niche in the artistic world by way of the clothes I wear. My mom had always had a love for fashion and eventually I caught on as the search for sweaters and shoes became a priority.

I’m not sure when it happened, either. Up until sophomore year my mom was laying out my clothes determining what I wear the next day. Then one day I awoke to the realization that my clothes could be my art.

Inspired by NBA stars Dwyane Wade and Russell Westbrook my sense of fashion is a little crazy compared to my mom’s, who values class with cool on the side. I tend to find simply the most extravagant clothes I can. This typically involves my Nike AF1s or Jordans with any assortment of my trademark socks and a shirt to match. I have a love for snapbacks, but my fear of being labeled a tool prevents me from too much wear around the school.

Everything I wear is a reflection of my personality. I don’t hesitate to speak my mind, and when I have the time I will talk for hours. Listening is not my forte, and the best moments in life are the moments when no one holds it back. I’m such an extrovert I can’t help but to yell it to the world with the colors of my clothing. The more attention I attract, the better in my mind.

It’s gotten to the point where fashion dictates how I view others, as well. Everyone has their own sense of fashion, but some obviously put more work into it than others. Jeans are the enemy of the unique individual. I’m pretty sure graphic t-shirts are the devil. Tennis shoes might have committed numerous human rights violations.

To me, there is honestly no more visible form of expression than fashion. You can’t display your art everywhere you go, and no one will listen to you read your story aloud in class. All it takes is a peek to realize when your shirt is incredible and the socks happen to complement it better than a Canadian doorman.

My respect for someone tends to go up with the variety of clothes they wear, whether it is warranted or not. A girl who wears a dress one day and pants the next will impress me more than someone who wears a sweatshirt to school every day. This isn’t to say I don’t mind leggings and a t-shirt, but the key is not knowing what to expect from someone when you see them.

This is not the end all be all of fashion analyses. Fashion dictates how I express myself so it often clouds and determines how I view others. So of course you may be the type of person to hold back on your fashion and spend your days drawing beautiful sunsets, or writing about the best of your days yet to come. However, because that is not my style, I’ll stick to style.