This is my final outfit for the boohoo.com #WeAreUs campaign that is exploring individual styles across the world. I’ve been looking at how Ballarat influences my unique style, not compromising who you are and now I want to show you how my style means believing my inner voice. Finding your unique style has so much to do with realising you’re working on your own canvas, not someone else’s.
Being comfortable in your own skin is the foundation of any individual style. Being individual means knowing what makes you unique, and that stops you from clamouring to add your voice to a conversation someone is already having. You don’t need to add to the white noise. Be yourself and what you have to say will naturally be more worth listening to.
I’ve regularly heard people say things like “it’s easy for you to love your body, look how gorgeous you are.” This is quite a funny thing to say to someone. Imagine everyone in the world was painted a different colour or print. Imagine saying to someone “it’s easy for you to love your body, you got the envious paisley print in your genes, I got floral.” Who decides which is better out of paisley and floral? There are days when I want to be the paisley. There are definitely things about myself that I would love to change. What I’m saying is, never underestimate the internal agony and self hatred another person can carry. You can still have a dark day, whether you are paisley or floral.
Plenty of people have a mental map of their flaws that they can recite as an internal mantra. Instead of presuming someone else has it easy because their body works better for your mental map, take a look at that shared humanity in giving what we think are flaws more airtime and often being blind to our own unique beauty. That labour of self ridicule doesn’t come from what our bodies look like, it comes from social constructs around us that help us build those mental maps. So before you think a beautiful person has it easy, remember that their personal insecurities come from the same external influences. Part of those influences is pitting us against one another to see who measures up. The only person you can measure yourself against is you. Find that happy place. Think about it. Take the time to listen to that internal voice that says ‘hey, I look great.’ You may have spent years talking over it with ‘I’d look great if’ comments. Tell them to be quiet, and listen to your real inner voice. It belongs to your body, and your body is unique.
Speaking of unique, here’s a shout out to the unique bar scene getting a revival in Ballarat at the moment. My new favourite venue is Bar Wat with it’s art deco vibes, cocktails, mocktails and flexible tapas menu. I was taken there by Goldfields Girl for this shoot, and ended up staying for food and drinks and many good vibes.
Dress: BooHoo
Shoes: Wittner
Location: Bar Wat
Photos: Goldfields Girl
I hope you have been enjoying this three part style focus for the boohoo.com #WeAreUs campaign. If you want to share your unique style tag #WeAreBallarat or #WeAre[yourcityhere] on Instagram. I’d love to see what style you have and how that captures your individual voice.
– L
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