STOP HATING ON "THE OVERDRESSED FRIEND": WAYS TO NAVIGATE THE COMMON DRESS CODE ISSUE

WRITTEN BY SHARRA GREENE

“Overdressed is a social construct created by your haters” - some well dressed clever person on Twitter

I’ve been on both sides; the girl showing up to the function in a dress and heels and getting mean mugged and snarky comments, with people asking “Where you going??”, and the girl who showed up in sweats but is hyping my homegirl up telling her how she looks tf good tonight! Regardless of what I’m giving with my personal style, I’m always happy to see my peers show up in what makes them feel their best. So the whole "she doing too much” thing rarely ever comes from me. More times than not, that comment gives off insecure vibes.

Though I believe a part of having great style comes from knowing how to adapt your style to different settings, I definitely think it’s important to show respect for your differences with the people you care about, and personal style is no exception… especially as women. We receive so much hate and negativity coming our way, the least we can do is give each other our props when we step out looking right. Here are a few ways I navigate this common issue among my friends…

SEND A QUICK GROUP TEXT TO DETERMINE THE VIBE FOR THE OUTING

This is an actual screenshot from my group message with my girls. We all love to get cute, but we also each have different styles and may not all be in the same mood that day so it’s always a good idea to confirm the dress code so no one feels like they didn’t get the memo.

RESPECT EACH OTHER’S AESTHETIC

Understand that what’s super formal to you may just be dressy casual to your friend, and vice versa. We each have different ways that we like to express our selves with our personal style and that’s more than okay… Just because someone may like to pair some heels with their jeans while you may go with your fave sneakers because you value comfort, that doesn’t necessarily mean that person is trying to “one up” you. We all have a right to step out in whatever makes us feel like our best selves.

EMBRACE BEING “THE OVERDRESSED FRIEND”

Don’t be peer pressured into turning down ya steez just because some haters wanna police your fashion choices. Embrace the stigma because getting dressed up for life is something to be proud of! One of my fav brands, House of Rehab, has some super cute tees & accessories, specifically designed with “the overdressed friend” in mind. Check em out below.

The "OVERDRESSED FRIEND" Unisex Tee

by House of Rehab - $25

OVERDRESSED Pin

by House of Rehab - $15

Stay tuned for more fashion & lifestyle tips making their way to the blog very soon!

Sharra,

“The definition of walking art.”

3 METHODS FOR CURATING A PERSONAL STYLE THAT'S UNAPOLOGETICALLY "YOU"

WRITTEN BY SHARRA GREENE

“Fashion is not necessarily about labels, It’s not about brands. It’s about something else that comes from within you.” - Ralph Lauren

The number one complaint I hear from my clients and even friends, is how everything in fashion today looks the same…and as someone who’s been studying the industry since I was 10, I’ve watched in real time as the convenience of fast fashion (which most of us have a love hate relationship with) has halted creativity in a way.

In today’s world, everyone knows where you get your clothes from, or at least where to find something similar. This can make you uninspired & discouraged when it comes to uniquely expressing yourself through your style. To combat that, I’m sharing my personal recipe for saying f*ck the standard and making each look your own.

DON’T LIMIT YOUR OUTFIT INSPIRATION TO HOW IT’S WORN ON A MODEL OR STORE MANNEQUIN

I feel like so many make the mistake of just going with how a company or a merchandiser says a piece is to be worn. But this can make getting dressed redundant, boring, and impersonal. Do you even like how it’s styled on the mannequin? Are you and the model even the same body type? How would you rock it? These are all so crucial to creating strong personal style.

The skirt I’m wearing above was seen on the site paired with a solid black crop top & black pumps. But I wanted to turn it up some so I added feather boots, & a studded jacket instead. Each styling choice should make the look more dynamic and personal.

ALWAYS INCORPORATE THESE 3 ELEMENTS: TEXTURE, COLOR, PRINT

Which of the three are you more drawn to? These are my 3 “secret weapons” when it comes to creating a multi dimensional look that stops you in your tracks. But, depending on your personality and what you naturally gravitate to, you may decide to make only one or two of these your signature.

Either way, keeping them in mind when shopping will help you add more impactful pieces to your wardrobe. You want a print that makes your eyes wander, colors that make you appear vibrant, and a texture that makes you wanna feel the details on the clothing.

USE SUBTLE DETAILS TO MAKE YOUR LOOK MORE “YOU”

Every single look you wear doesn’t have so be super busy & complex. Sometimes you can go with a simple base and let the accessories speak for you. For example, I loooove a little black dress vibe with a fun shoe and big earrings (as you can see from what I’m wearing above). But my LBD’s always have an interesting detail like cool fringes or a unique neckline. It’s the little things…

I hope these 3 strategies allow you to experiment with your look even more and feel like your best self in whatever you wear! When you dress for YOU, you attract all that is truly for you.

Stay tuned for more style content making its way to the blog very soon and don’t forget to subscribe so you’ll never miss an update!

Sharra,

“ The definition of walking art.”

Image Sources: Vogue Paris, Damon Rice, MKR Shoots, Sharra Greene Styling