Resolution

My mom always told me "to thy own self be true," quoting Shakespeare. I hated her advice growing up, but now I live by it more and more every day.

I told my man that I don't think a Catholic ceremony is right for us, and he got mad, saying that I am making it harder and harder for him to want to marry me. That is fine. I refuse to compromise my happiness like I did before. I believe what I believe and I don't what I don't. No excuses.

I have been obsessing over M.I.A. lately. I love her sense of style and individualism. It's really influential for me. So influential, in fact, that I am changing the way I put myself together. I have always dressed very plain and simple, and if I dress up it's too matchy-matchy and VERY boring. Very safe...and I finally realize that for me this isn't how I should present myself. It's understandable that I tend to go for things that don't grab attention, since I am a huge introvert.
However, my look implies that I follow guidelines and I conform, which I am recently learning that I don't ever want to do. It makes me look even more introverted and highlights my insecurity.

From now on, I am resolving to try and mismatch. I will buy fun prints that reflect what I like: nature, tribal influence, floral.... I only usually wear basic earrings if anything at all, but I want to wear necklaces with pendants and statement piece jewelry.
Nothing too big for my petite frame though....this will be fun :)
To mix prints, one should be bold and the other should incorporate a minimal color on the main print, so it's bold with mellow. A print can be used as the combining piece, if you wear two solid mismatched colors. Or, the prints can be balanced with neutrals. If you are wearing plain colors, use a bold color as the focal point. One print should be the focal point, unless you are combining 2 prints, but make sure they complement and don't compete. The print size should be about the same size if they are both sort of bold.

I also want to only buy from thrift/consignment/discount stores, such as TJ Maxx and Ross. I need to avoid the cookie cutter stores like those at the mall, unless I am buying small pieces from them, like accessories or basic layering stuff. As long as the hair and makeup is good, the outfit doesn't matter much. It seems like whenever I go out with friends that are wearing poorly-matched outfits, they are the ones that get the most compliments. It creates interest. It says something different.
This is crazy. I never ever thought I'd want to dress this way. Today I went to Labels and bought a pleather jacket (everyone needs one) and some pretty wood earrings with blue flowers painted on them.
I wore a mismatched outfit today and surprisingly felt a lot more confident than I usually do. I guess this is what I will be doing from now on.

My man better accept me as I am. I don't think this is a phase....I need to be me. 100%.