I was wondering whether I should post an outfit or photo diary/inspirational post when I got this mail in my inbox. And after reading it, I decided that this topic is more valuable than any inspirational/beauty/outfit post out there. Some of you may already know what it's all about from the title and the photo, some of you may have never heard of it before. I'll try and make it a bit more clear now.
Are you familiar with the term FASHION BULLYING? I'm sure you all are, everyone's been encountered with it and possibly without even knowing it. Whether you've been bullied or you're the bully, you can relate to this.
While I was growing up, at times I used to cry day and night because my mom couldn't afford those trendy (and pretty expensive) clothes and shoes my friends had. I always felt like an outcast because I was judged for what I wore. When I got a bit older, I started thinking on my own and stopped trying to please my so called friends. I started wearing what I thought was pretty and what I could pay for in paper money, not house rents. I started wearing my dad's sweaters, my mom's blouses. My grandma would make me dresses and pants. Little by little, I realized I parted ways with my friends and generally people in my hometown in terms of fashion and various opinions. I started being different. And the best part was - it has been there all along, it just took me a while to figure it out. My mom always told me that knowledge is far more important than material. When you acquire knowledge, the material will come. And she is right. Today, all those "friends" I was trying to hang with are the same as I remember, judgmental and crowd followers.
While I was growing up, at times I used to cry day and night because my mom couldn't afford those trendy (and pretty expensive) clothes and shoes my friends had. I always felt like an outcast because I was judged for what I wore. When I got a bit older, I started thinking on my own and stopped trying to please my so called friends. I started wearing what I thought was pretty and what I could pay for in paper money, not house rents. I started wearing my dad's sweaters, my mom's blouses. My grandma would make me dresses and pants. Little by little, I realized I parted ways with my friends and generally people in my hometown in terms of fashion and various opinions. I started being different. And the best part was - it has been there all along, it just took me a while to figure it out. My mom always told me that knowledge is far more important than material. When you acquire knowledge, the material will come. And she is right. Today, all those "friends" I was trying to hang with are the same as I remember, judgmental and crowd followers.
In this internet and overall digital oriented era, it's got even worse. Every single human being on this planet is given a voice for praise or slander; nowadays, people think what they give is constructive criticism but telling someone their dress is ugly is just pure hatred. But why? Why make someone miserable? Why feed off of their stress? So trust me - don't sweat over those mean anonymous comments. Their only purpose is to hurt your feelings and make you doubt yourself. But you have the power to stand up for yourself.
If someone says "You're so weird", reply with "You're so generic". If someone laughs at you for having you own style, laugh back at them for not having it. If you have the luck to be different and creative in your own ways then don't back down just because one person thinks it's funny or stupid. Go for it and be happy and proud of who you are. We were all born as individuals so why put in any effort to fit into the mass mold?
All of those reasons were enough for me to just sit down and write this post in one breath. I'm so grateful that someone finally decided to take a global stand against fashion bullying. No matter how funny and small it may sound to some, it's not to be underestimated.
Head over to the official site of FashionAgainstBullying and read other stories. Feel like showing your support? Just upload a look of your own with their logo somewhere on it. You can also check mine here!
And if you've been moved and feel you have something to say on the subject then write, share, scream! Spread the word! Let's stop fashion discrimination and looks-based judgment once and for all!
Inspired? Please share!
24 comments:
Nice post !
3 words YOU LOOK FABULOUS :) !
I am an instant follower now :)
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Check it out ! :)
Love,
Janice
the-fashion-milkshake.blogspot.nl
Brilliant post! I went through exactly the same thing.
I bet those girls are jealous about how fabulous you are now, too.
Feeling inspired!
Elena
Style Sector AU
Veoma inspirativan post. Nisam znala za FAB, ali cu morati da "spread the word" i na mom blogu. Ovo je, bar po meni, jako vazno.
http://fallforfall.blogspot.com/
This is so true and I'm so glad you wrote it!
Literally just yesterday I was shopping in town and this girl looked at me and said 'EUGH!' right to my face...ok I was dressed a little different and I don't expect everyone to like it, but that's just plain rude.
It's so easy to be knocked down by a comment like that, but you have to trust in what you think looks good to be an individual, and anything like innovative.
I fucking love you! :)
You are brilliant and inspiring.
Go girl!
Moraću dalje da proširim ovo, živa istina. Svaka čast što si se zauzela tako :)
Beautiful post - yes, I knew exactly the topic from the title.
Those development years are hard, no matter where you are or what your sense of style is. In some scenes, isolation comes with edgier fashion, and in others, it's the more refined and conservative looks that get stink-eye'd.
What you write is so beautiful, and so inspiring. Some girls lose themselves in the mass generic trends of their community, I'm glad you were able to keep yourself defined and true.
I love this post. I definitely agree with you. Amazing post.
xx lauren
http://slowburnfastburn.com
I really loved this post! The internet makes it so much easier for people to be catty about other people's style but I love seeing people with individual style - the more unique the better. xoxo
This is fantastic.
I spent a lot of wasted time when I was younger, trying to look like all the other girls in my year at school in their expensive clothes, before realising that copying people just isn't my style. I've always done my own thing, since I was a little girl, and it's sad that people can pressure you into losing that sense of individuality. It's a shame I lost those years of creativity, but I'm glad I realised how important it is to be different, because as you said, those people - the ones who judge everyone and do what they think people want to see - ARE still the same, and haven't been able to grow in the way that I have.
You are great.
Z
http://areweontime.blogspot.com
Thanks for the lovely comments everyone! I can identify with each of your stories and I'm so glad there are people like me who kept on doing their own thing despite the evil eye's and talks behind their backs! Rock on, girls! Feel free to share my post and write about this cause on your blogs! Let's take a stand together! <3
sjajna kampanja.
drago mi je da si podelila svoje iskustvo.
Fenomenalan post! U srednjoj skoli sam imala velike probleme jer nisam zelela da se utopim u masu nafoliranih devojaka ciji su idoli bili Ceca,Seka, Karleusa itd..Uporno sam odbijala da slusam tu vrstu muzike i da se tako oblacim, pa sam upravo zbog toga celu prvu godinu provela sedeci sama na odmorima. Srecom, kasnije sam nasla 2 drugarice(sa kojim se dan danas extra druzim) i sa njima sam bila izolovana od grupe sve do kraja skolovanja :) veliki pozz
I couldn't agree more. Sometimes people don't even say anything and they give you a leering, mean (somehow disgusting) look on their faces. I have sidecut when all my friends are growing their long, soft wavy hair, so I've experienced such look a lot.
I've read somewhere in stylerookie, people who look at us that way are actually pretty jealous. "Why couldn't I have the courage to do (or wear) something like that?". I don't know Miss, maybe because you didn't try??
Great post, Minnie! Just love it!!
http://www.leathertee.com
http://www.pieceofsummer.com
Love that you posted about this issue - you are inspiring - and stunning! :)
Pariss @ Forever The Romantic
Http://forevertheromanticblog.blogspot.com
Xxx
Ti si jedinstvena i inteligentna devojka. Odlican post!
Love this! Bullying is unacceptable. People do it everyday, but I think it's an insecurity thing which they need to deal with. Not everyone is perfect, nor the same and they shouldn't be!
Jay
Ugh, "anonymous". If they're going to be cruel, they should put their name on their hatefulness.
Great post, all I can add is whatever happens just try to keep your confidence. It helps you but insecurity always destroys you.
thanks again, it's great everyone's so supportive of this cause! xx
wonderful post! very inspiring !
I think everone of us experiences fashion bullying during our lifes, but the teenage years are the most vulnerable.
I think its always important to teach our kids to understand that they are individuals and unique and bullies like that are complete idiots and have no character of their own and have to be difined by others, they are the odd ones!
I've been hearing a lot about this label. Thx for the post ;) Xo
www.justbejealous.com
Svako ima pravo na misljenje, mi biramo cije nam znaci.
Nikada me nije zanimalo misljenje vecine i drago mi je da sam oko sebe okupila krug ljudi sa slicnim vrednostima u zivotu, cije mi misljenje zaista znaci...
Bez velike filozofije, napisala si shta mislim! Hvala na tome!
Any thoughts?