Today I am very happy because I have a guess in the blog. Her name is Zoha Khan, a girl from Pakistan on a journey to craft her mark in this world. She is an enthusiasm of fashion like me and she has a reflexion for us. You can contact her in her twitter @zoyie23.  So, enjoy the reading girls! Here it is:

“THE ROYAL SCRUTINY”

So it was my best friend’s birthday bash and I was having a gala time…

“Hey, isn’t this the same dress you wore at Alina’s birthday party?” asked one of my best friends with a look of disdain on her face, as if I had walked down a ramp for a pageant crown and committed a howler.

Had it been Her Royal Highness Kate Middleton, in my place, she would have been showered with praises and appreciation. Headlines have lauded her every time she had been caught repeating certain attire. “Look, how despite being married into royalty she does not shy away from repeating her wardrobe,” they said. Is it not strange how while people in power tend to make one kind of statement, the same action may be interpreted quite differently when it comes to the common man? Why the double standards?

Life already having being a rollercoaster ride, keeping up with this fashion parade thing only adds up to the fiasco. The avidity of setting a fashion statement everyday has drawn people away from the real purposes and goals of their life.I am in complete agreement with Art director Matilda Kahl, who became an overnight sensation through her article “Why I Wear The Exact Same Thing to Work Every Day’’, when she took herself out of the dilemma of choosing outfit every morning to work­­­­—revolutionizing her routine by investing in 15 silk white blouses and a few pairs of black pants and has chosen it as her work uniform for about past three years. It indeed had cost her a fortune in short-term but later helped her discover the hidden treasure in long-term, i.e., it saved her time, money and above all saved her from the every now and then scrutiny. I think this was the wisest idea ever by a woman! This way, people respect you for who you are and not for something that merely represents your body.

I believe, dressing aptly and dressing for becoming a centre of attention is different. In our everyday life is it more important to look presentable or make a fashion statement every time we put our foot out the door? I have seen people getting out of their skin to flow with the crowd. To what end? Just to please a few people around? My dear friends do we have to jeopardize our comfort to “fit in”? Since people usually believe in “what you see is what you get”, is not hiding the real-self and creating a false image an attempt to deliberately deceive everyone, including one’s own self?

Nina Garcia, a famous Colombian fashion journalist and critic had once said: “If you look back in history of the women who are most memorable and most stylish, they were never the followers of fashion. They were the ones who were unique in their style, breakers of the rules. They were authentic, genuine, and original. They were not following the trends.”

Well, adopting a particular set of clothing for work is not confined to women like that of Matilda Kahl, but it is also quite a trend among influential males such as Steve Jobs of Apple fame and Mark Zukerberg, one of the five co-founders of the social-networking website Facebook. Had success been a matter of clothes, then Steve Jobs with his turtle neck shirts and jeans and Mark Zukerberg with his grey T-shirt would have definitely lost it.

Steve Jobs repeating outfits.
Photo Source: http://gizmodo.com/5830132/the-evolution-of-steve-jobs-clothing/

The bottom line is, repeating something you feel was your best appearance is no shame. When worn with confidence and dignity it is a statement by itself. Ostentation is for the nouveau riches, who are uncertain about themselves. Be proud of who you are and never ever compromise on your identity. One should never dress to “fit in”. People come and go but the truest ones stay by your side no matter what you wear or what brand you carry. Believe in yourself for it is you who sets a trend and not a fashion magazine as Adriana Lima a Brazilian model and actress, best known as a Victoria’s Secret Angel since 2000 quotes, “Be sure what you want and be sure about yourself. Fashion is not just beauty, it’s about good attitude. You have to believe in yourself and be strong”.

Live, laugh, love and dress to your comfort!