STYLE

Fighting the urge to wear your flowiest dress to your 8 a.m. class? Stop overthinking and go for it! Your sparkly new top to the grocery store? Why not? Your bright pink matching set to the gym? Major slay, honestly. It's 2023—and we think the idea of being "overdressed" for anything is a total thing of the past.

Should you be sporting a white ball gown to your cousin's wedding? Probably not. (There are certain situations where dress codes and etiquette come into play). But there's nothing wrong with elevating your day-to-day style to be a bit bolder than the jeans-and-hoodie combo, if that's what you prefer.

The fact of the matter is that not everyone feels their best in the casual, dressed-down staples that have become popular. And even if you do have a fave pair of blue jeans (who doesn't?), sometimes you just want to mix it up and feel a little fancier.

Glowing up your everyday fits can actually be a powerful thing. After all, you know what they say: Look good, feel good. If donning your fave maxi dress and a dramatic smoky eye is going to give you the confidence you need to get through your final history presentation, don't let the fear of being "overdressed" keep you from doing so.

Girls often feel that they need to look and dress the same as everyone else and this is just not true. Especially in teens, there is so much pressure to be popular and well-liked that it can be tempting to fall in line with what others are doing just to blend in. Sure, it can be frustrating when simply trying something different is met with questions like "Why do you look so nice?" Or even worse: "Who are you dressing up for?" (Ugh, been there.) But as long as you're wearing what you feel best in, then it's totally OK to stand out.

These questions can be super annoying to hear but they can be surprisingly easy to answer. "I like this outfit" sounds simple, but it screams confidence. Expanding and saying "Everyone has a different style and this is mine" will remind them that fashion is a tool that should be used to express yourself and that there's no one right way to dress.

And just think of all the *amaze* fashion aesthetics trending on TikTok right now: Barbiecore, fairycore, royalcore. You wouldn't want to miss out on wearing the clothes you absolutely heart just so you can blend in. Basically, pick your fave look and go all out. It's OK to be a little over the top, even if others aren't.

And hey, if your idea of dressing up is putting on your softest pair of sweats? We're here for it. The bottom line is this: You do YOU, girl! Express yourself. If you feel good, then that's all that matters.

Share your fanciest fits with us on Insta @girlslifemag!

Elevate your style with these must-read tips:
How to shop your own closet
These little details will take your spring wardrobe to the next level
23 fashion trends to jump on (bc it's fashion's fun new year)

Slider image: @pressley
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by Melanie Dowling | 4/30/2023