2011-2021: An Evolution of Personal Style

Let me begin by mentioning that I am, in no way, an expert on fashion or design. I am simply a visual creator with a passion for styling my own outfits. There’s something about pairing colors, textures, and accessories together that brings immense joy and satisfaction.

In my opinion, personal style and fashion taste can be difficult to understand. One could argue that there are firm guidelines with how a person should dress such as, “No white after Labor Day!” and “Don’t mix black and brown colors within an outfit!” (I disagree with both statements.) One could also state that personal style is an artful way to express oneself. The second statement frequently contradicts the first — which I did not process until fairly recently.

I first came across internet style bloggers in 2010 via a photographer (now fashion designer) named Tricia Gosingtian who was based in the Philippines. I actually discovered Tricia on DeviantArt as a student at Ateneo de Manila University who was photographing friends such as Alodia Gosiengfiao. After some time, she began sharing her own personal style (which I was consistently drawn to) via Lookbook.nu — a space for individuals to share their everyday outfits. There, I discovered others such as Adam Gallagher, Ebba Zingmark, and Kryz Uy.

As a child, good fashion wasn’t very present or accessible. My adoptive mother was an immigrant who followed my adoptive father to the States from South Korea. Both my mother and my father came from working-class families — my mother was born during the Korean War and my father voluntarily joined the military during Vietnam to escape a noxious family environment. With all of that said, fashion was typically the least of their worries.

For me, I did not develop a personal style until committing to a career in visual arts (photography). There was a lot of trial and error when it came to outfits and, to this day, I’m still discovering and evolving.

Below is a carousel of outfit images taken between 2011-2019 (by Josh or as a self-portrait). Looking back, I could have been more coordinated with color selections and accessories. But hey, style is something that develops over time.

It was interesting to view these as a collection of photos, as they certainly showcased patterns within my personal style — mainly that hats are a favorite accessory and that I do enjoy the flow of skirts. Over the last few years, in particular, my taste has shifted drastically. For the longest time, I refused to view clothing or accessories as investment pieces (which was a mistake) and kept “making do” with clothing that did not “spark joy” (as Marie Kondo loves to say).

For years, I was acquiring fast-fashion items to be economical but did not realize the negative impact of my actions. Granted, I rarely purchased clothing and would wear them until they self-destructed. Take note of the same white lace tops and brown sandals worn within outfits above. Sadly, one of the white lace tops (Forever 21) developed a massive hole and those brown sandals (Madewell — but ironically not “made well”) fell apart while strolling through the canals of Venice, Italy. I will never forget the awkward hobble back to the B&B we stayed at (Cima Rosa — highly recommend). I suppose that’s what I deserve for not understanding that there is a cost and importance to quality items (and taking care of them).

Today, I would much rather save my funds to spend more supporting a brand (or consignment store) that values story, artisan luxury design, and quality craftsmanship over an affordable (and potentially semi-stolen) design created under unethical working environments. While that statement may sound privileged, it’s important to tally the amount spent over time and consider limiting your spending habits. If you’re unable to salvage a poorly-made item (ie. shoes) and are needing to replace them every year — you’re both wasting your hard-earned money and supporting the vicious cycle of fast-fashion, environmental waste, and unfair labor conditions.

These days are different; I’ve been conscientious regarding the items obtained for everyday wear. Moving forward, I’m acquiring more pre-loved clothing and accessories, along with investment pieces (whether those are pre-loved or crafted with intention/ethics in mind). I strongly believe in taking action through purchasing decisions and hope more individuals will consider doing the same. As someone who works in an industry with a massive environmental footprint (weddings/events/fashion), I ultimately don’t feel right adding to the destruction of this beautiful planet.