Fashion has always come naturally to me. While most toddlers were saying “mama” or “dada,” my first word—dead serious—was “shoes.” It’s been on brand ever since.
As a kid, I used to treat every occasion like a red carpet moment. Birthday party? New outfit. Dinner with family? New outfit. Tuesday? Yeah… probably needed something new for that too. I fully believed that once an outfit had made its debut, it was done. Retired. Time to move on.
Looking back, it was fun—but not exactly practical. Or sustainable. I ended up with a closet full of things I wore once and never again. Half of them didn’t even go with each other. It was like a chaotic scrapbook of trends I no longer identified with. And worse, most of those one-time outfits were fast fashion finds—cheaply made, trend-driven pieces that weren’t built to last. For me or the planet.
Fast fashion creates enormous waste. Most of those impulse buys eventually end up in landfills, where they sit for decades—sometimes centuries—leaking microplastics and chemicals into the environment. And for what? A moment of feeling “in” that never really lasted?
Honestly, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve looked back at old photos and thought, “What was I actually wearing?” Like… Why did I think a hot pink ruched mini dress and white knee high were a must for my friend’s backyard birthday party? Or the time I wore a puff-sleeve satin top with leather leggings in the middle of a Florida summer—just for a dinner at Cheesecake Factory? My fashion choices were giving ~event~ but not giving longevity.
And beyond being unhelpful for the environment, it wasn’t helpful for me. My wallet was always crying. My closet was bursting at the seams with “meh” energy. And I was still standing there most days saying, “I have nothing to wear.”
Somewhere along the way, that mindset started to shift. I realized I didn’t need a new look every time life handed me a calendar invite. I didn’t need to chase trends or feel guilty about rewearing something I loved. I just needed a wardrobe that worked with me—pieces that were versatile, timeless, and actually made me feel like myself.
Now, my style is about consistency, not consumption. My closet is made up of staples I wear on repeat: neutral tones, clean silhouettes, basics that can be layered, dressed up or down, and actually styled in different ways. The bonus? These pieces last. They're not built for one-time use, they’re built for real life.
Do I still get tempted by a random viral trend? Absolutely. But now I stop and ask myself: Can I wear this more than once? Does it go with what I already own? Will I still love it next season? Will I look back in five years and say “Oh no, not again?” If the answer’s no, I leave it right there on the hanger.
There’s something so freeing about having a wardrobe that reflects you—not just whatever’s trending. It’s a little quieter, a little slower, but so much more real. When your closet works with your life instead of fighting against it, getting dressed becomes a joy again.
So yeah, I might’ve started life saying “shoes” instead of “mama,” but now I’m walking in ones that actually support who I am—and who I want to be.
xx,
Stevie Rabkin
UC Social Media Intern