Product of the Environment.

What molds our perceptions of our environment?

It has to do with:

·      Where they are located.

·      The people within that area.

·      The activities that will take place.

·      How clean they are.

·      The mood.

·      The vibe.

·      Etc.

All of these things give us an idea of how to dress. Most likely you try to imagine the type of route others will take. Should I dress formal, casual, funky, etc. You think about the factors above and others that will affect how you dress, and essentially how others will perceive you in your environment.

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I chose one style to study in particular just as a test subject, and that is Downtown Chic. I have a dress that I made that I consider downtown chic, so I thought I’d include that as well.

When considering environment for a downtown chic style, thoughts should include:

·  Ease of movement; lots of walking and possibly carrying a bag or two.

·  Weather: You may be outside. Have to especially consider fabrics, shoes, hair and makeup.

·  Time of day/How long you’ll be there: Will you arrive in the day and leave at night? Need a jacket/scarf/gloves etc.

·  Will you be able to change before going to your next destination: Have work, then a night out scheduled with no time to change? Can you bring a change of clothes, or wear a more functional outfit?

·  First impressions: How many people will you meet for the first time today?

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These are just a few things we think of before even getting to the style part. And then with style sometimes comes the possible sacrifice of one of the other considerations, like comfort : ).

With that said, it is apparent that what we consider the perception of ourselves sometimes outweighs the perception we have about physical facts of the environment. For example, though we may know we have to walk 5 blocks from the subway to our destination, we will still wear heels, choosing style over comfort. How you dress for an event, occasion or situation speaks volumes whether on purpose or involuntarily.

The style of downtown chic is that of a confident, edgy yet clean, sharp and sophisticated woman.

These looks I feel illustrate that.

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Areli Sinclair Babydoll dress:

   Versatile. Able to dress up with tights and heels or down unbuttoned and layered with a jacket, belt, leggings and boots.

Versatile, clean yet edgy: the epitome of downtown chic.

   Overall, I feel we dress for how we want to feel in a certain environment. The two strongest emotions are fear and love. And a downtown chic woman is going to want to come across as confident, not afraid. So confidence is key in this style. Wear your personality through your style choices.