If I had to describe my wardrobe in three words, it would be black, patent and studded. I'm normally found in skinny black jeans or a pleather miniskirt and band tee, so when I was challenged to shake up my style rules and dive into colour, midi dresses and blue jeans, I was nervous.
But did changing my wardrobe, with the help of the new autumn drops from Very, change my mindset?
Winter? Black. Autumn? Black. Summer? …still black. You get the gist. My wardrobe is normally a bottomless pit of darkness and I never wear pink, so day one was a big change to my usual attire.
I picked this Barbie-lite dusty pink skirt for its pockets (!) and ‘70s vibes, pairing it with a plain white tee and trainers.
I didn’t expect to love this look as much as I did. My main fear was that I’d look too girly, but the chunkiness of the trainers and the cord fabric meant I still felt like me. I'd wear this whole outfit again.
Maybe it was being forced to wear a suit in sixth form, or just being 5'1", but suits make me feel like a little girl playing dress up, rather than a professional adult.
Throwing myself in at the deep end, I chose a checked trouser suit to bring out my inner boss. For some extra edge, I added an AC/DC band tee (yes, I can name more than three of their songs.)
What surprised me most about this outfit was how much everyone else loved it. I got stopped in the corridor by colleagues fangirling over my co-ords. As for me? I felt like I could walk into any meeting and own the room – I might just need to shorten the trousers first.
Everyone texts their friends to find out what they’re wearing before a night out, right? I don’t like to fade into the background, but I do like to feel appropriately dressed, so this rule break was going to push me into the spotlight.
I took things to the next level with a rainbow sequin, cape-sleeved, one-shoulder dress (phew). In case that wasn’t extra enough, I added some four-inch stilettos and headed out to an event celebrating my friend's new business.
With most of the guests in jeans-and-a-nice-top, my sequins definitely stood out. I felt out of place at first - everyone could spot ‘the girl in the sequin dress' - but by the end of the night, I was too busy making connections to care about looking extra. It's a mood I’m taking with me after this challenge.
I usually opt for V-necks, mini-skirts and tight fits to show off my figure and avoid getting drowned in fabric. I'm starting to realise that most of these style rules come from me being short…
This outfit was the most different to my usual look, with its midi length, long sleeves and florals, especially when paired with knee-high boots.
By lunchtime, I was overheating thanks to the extra layers and our Indian summer, so I swapped the boots for brown sandals and felt a million times more 'me'. The moral of the story? There’s only so far I can push my wardrobe rules all at once.
My height (again!), coupled with my baby face, mean I get ID'd at every bar and even 15-rated films, so I try to keep my clothing choices elevated to avoid looking like a 12-year-old.
Out of all the outfits in this challenge, I was most scared of a simple sweatshirt and blue jeans. It seemed to untick all of my boxes: bright, colourful, covered-up and super casual.
While I couldn't shake the feeling I looked like a Brownie (the girl guide, not the delicious baked treat), there were definitely elements of the look I’d work into my wardrobe, like some vintage blue denim and that sunflower yellow.
So, has this challenge encouraged me to mix up my style rules?
I’m definitely reconsidering colour in a way I never thought I would and I'm over being bothered about looking too dressed up for a situation. I'm also shopping blue jeans on Very as we speak. But as for everything together? One step at a time, okay?
Ready to challenge your own fashion rules? Shop the new season V by Very collection at Very
Isabella is a freelance journalist who has written on young women's issues, entertainment, TV and film, South Asian representation, mental health, dating and so much more. She has bylines in ELLE, Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping, Prima, Digital Spy, Women's Health, and Harper's Bazaar, and was named 30 Under 30 by MediaWeek, PPA and We Are The City. She was also shortlisted for Workplace Hero at the Investing In Ethnicity Awards and Hero of the Year at the European Diversity Awards. Follow Isabella on Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.
