I’ve always had an eclectic ear; over time, my wardrobe’s echoed the same melody.
My fashion sense at 33 is a swirl of every Jess that never left. I’m still the pink-loving little girl, the self-conscious tomboy, the depressed high school edgelord goth rocker, the hippie/whimsical phase that lasted maybe two months, and the metalhead aged 10.
As you drift through my fashion eras, reflect on your own. Which threads followed you, and which ones did you let fall away?
High school was the time of the tomboy. My need for comfort and hiding tightly interlaced my discovery of/obsession with classic rock and heavy metal. I lived in band tees, jeans, and baggy sweatshirts like my Motley Crue and Black Sabbath ones.
I wove through JCPenney’s plus section and Lane Bryant hunting for the least grandma dressy items I could find to twist to my taste. (I needed some for the dad rock Hinder concerts I went to or obligatory events.) Include Hot Topic and Spencer’s for edgy accessories, and those finds went every which way.
What Followed: Comfort, ability to embrace my odd side
What Drifted: Basically everything else
College was for experimentation, and I was everywhere trying to find myself. After hiding so many years, I pushed my limits. It was nothing drastic, but I experimented with more “alt” looks, colors, textures, and patterns.
A conglomeration of The Cure, Motley Crue, Black Veil Brides, A Day to Remember, and Fleetwood Mac energy flowed through my veins and into my closet. I had more luck finding clothes through Rainbow and Lane Bryant stepping up.
Looking back, I see how I lit up compared to high school. (Enjoy the silly Jerry photo to show my personality.)
What Followed: Cute booties, lace, faux leather, flowy fabric, animal print, comfy leggings, beanies
What Drifted: Almost all denim, fedora, too much bright color, tie-dye
Post-college Jess…a time for further experimentation and some pretty bomb closet staples. I purchased more skirts and dresses and started falling in love with my girly side. (This was when I learned to do makeup, too.)
I lived a good single life in mental health recovery. The sass and confidence I felt knew no bounds. I strutted into shows like Faster Pussycat, Bret Michaels, and Dope turning heads. I even got yanked on stage for a Steel Panther song. (True story and extremely fun memory.)
I loved this era of my life.
What Followed: Leopard print, crop tops, more flowy fabrics, sleek dresses to honor my figure, cute and bearable wedge heels, tighter clothing, big hats
What Drifted: Some old boring clothes I had in my closet (cardigans, old lady tops, etc.), bad eyebrow makeup, trash in my background
And we’ve come to modern me (most recent to least recent). This rebirth era, I’m embracing and growing my long-lasting/subtle taste in goth music. And that shows in my incorporation of more fishnet, lace, and mesh. I’ve also gone out into the goth community for the first time this year.
Boy Harsher, Ultra Sunn, Twin Temples, and Twin Tribes are some newer (to me) artists that I love blasting. But you know I still bump The Cure, London After Midnight, and Sisters of Mercy constantly. (I’ll have to throw together a getting ready playlist — thoughts?)
I still rock a lot of the same hair metal and clothes ideas including flowy dresses (not pictured); it’s just more confidently even with weight gain. I’ve even introduced occasional pastel splashes to my goth looks.
What’s Following: Everything, honestly
What’s Drifting: Nothing
The Soft Sea Witch 
Let’s Discuss!