Hey, Quirky Crew! Welcome back to the ongoing adventures of “Tangled Threads” In our last episode, we dove into the chaos of my childhood fashion confusion, and how my older sisters inadvertently influenced my style journey. Today, we’re picking up right where we left off, exploring the high school years – kilts, knee socks, and a closet that doubled as a life-support system. The wild terrain of public high school and the infamous “What the Heck Are You Gonna Wear?” game.
Sisterly Swagger and Shopping Dread
Growing up in a religious family as the pastor’s kids meant navigating a sea of wardrobe restrictions. But my sisters’ closets? Oh, they were like hidden treasure chests of possibilities. It wasn’t just about the clothes; it was their killer confidence that had me hooked. I longed for that same swagger, that magic ability to walk into a room and own it. Armed with admiration and a dash of envy, I charged into the shopping battlefield. Choosing an outfit felt like cracking a secret code, and let’s be real, I never quite mastered that skill. Enter the Catholic School attire – kilts, knee socks, and crisp white dress shirts.
My high school wardrobe became a “lifesaver” – a term I use loosely. It did make my morning decisions easier, but it also flatlined my closet creativity. While the kilt, knee socks, and crisp white dress shirts streamlined my mornings, they simultaneously plunged my style imagination into a deep slumber.
Public High School and the “What the Heck Are You Gonna Wear?” Game
Fast forward three years, and there I was, back on the game show, racking my brain to answer the pivotal question.
“What the hell are you gonna wear?!”
Suddenly, at 18, I was free to choose yet utterly clueless about my own style. Hand-me-downs, mismatched outfits, and the pressure to express myself made my style look like it belonged to someone else. It wasn’t authentically me.
In a bold move to break free from the fashion whirlwind, I took a drastic turn and chopped off all my hair. Did it solve the mysteries of my wardrobe? Not a chance. The chaos persisted, and my fashion journey resembled an ongoing sitcom with unexpected twists at every turn.
I Mask, Therefore I Am
Looking back, it wasn’t just a struggle with fashion; I was struggling with something deeper – masking. If you’re not familiar, masking is the art of camouflaging neurodivergent traits to fit everyone else’s expectations. My wardrobe made it crystal clear that I was in full masking mode.
The masking, combined with wardrobe restrictions and decision paralysis, made finding my style feel like a distant dream, and the future was looking pretty bleak. But fear not, fellow Quirky Crew members, because the journey doesn’t end here. Stay tuned for the next chapters of “Fashion Frolics,” where the plot thickens, the laughter continues, and the most stylish surprises are yet to unfold!