this post is about style.

(Except this picture. I just found it incredibly adorable.)

So I bought my school's newspaper yesterday, and I found myself giggling when I read the "Letters to the Editor" section. I know that some of them are from people who had to write one as a class assignment, and I could tell which ones were those. And then there was one from someone totally dissing the article from the last newspaper about fashion advice. Bee-tee-dubs, I have to agree. The fashion advice was...less than accurate.

LOVE it. Now, that is REAL style.

Girls my age, you know, 17-18 should really be moving towards establishing their style in better ways. That means:

LESS
- cutesy-lame graphic tees (spongebob, dora, Naruto, "I'm in AP shopping")
- band shirts (unless they have very good design elements)
- horizontal headbands
- Uggs. Yeah, they're warm, I've wanted a pair too, but they're just way overdone.
- trashiness
- gladiator sandals (time to say byebye)
- ray bans (cute at one time, way overdone now)
- high-waisted jeans (soccer mom)
- belly button shirts (no, no, no)

NO
- flare jeans
- flip-flops (unless you're at home)
- foofy/curly bangs (if you're going to get bangs and your hair is curly, have a straightening iron at hand)
- sketchers

MORE
- ankle boots
- lace tights
- neutral colors
- sophistication

"Sophistication" does not mean looking like an old maid either. You can easily pull off the looks that are considered stylish these days in a way that is youthful. The key is how you carry your look. If you're going to constantly worry that you look *weird*, go back to wearing Limited Too and all will be well again, I suppose. Otherwise, just tell yourself you look absolutely amazing and belong in Teen Vogue and others will believe it. The end.

Also, with style comes moderation. Don't pile on every single item of clothing in your closet at once or you'll look......lame. Keep it simple and chic. And if you're going to wear a certain look one day, for example, like the girl in the picture's, don't put on something totally unrelated with it, like neon sneakers or something. Or an old Aeropostale monkey sweater over something that would otherwise be really cute. PLEASE. I've seen it done before, I've done it before, and it's not good.

Basically, to at least get on the right track as you develop your more age-appropriate style, drop your middle-school style attachments and start looking at new things.

Glad to be of service.





And, a disclaimer: I don't direct this at anyone in particular. I didn't write it to be a rude old hag, nor do I mean to be condescending/think I'm superior/any of that. Just giving out some free help. Community service, yes?