FASHION CAN BE BOUGHT. STYLE ONE MUST POSSESS

ANYONE CAN BE "IN FASHION," ALL ONE HAS TO DO IS FOLLOW THE HERD AND ABIDE BY THE RULES OF THE SEASON. BUT STYLE IS PERSONAL. THERE IS NO HERD TO FOLLOW. THERE ARE NO RULES. THERE ARE NO SEASONS. STYLE COMES FROM WITHIN. IF THERE IS ANYTHING ABSOLUTE ABOUT STYLE, IT IS THAT IT HOLDS YOU ACCOUNTABLE TO YOURSELF AT EVERY MOMENT. HOW YOU PRESENT YOURSELF TO THE WORLD IS IMPORTANT. IT IS INHERENTLY RELATED TO YOUR SENSE OF SELF. EVERY TIME YOU DRESS YOU ASSERT SOME ASPECT OF YOURSELF AND YOUR IDENTITY. WITH STYLE, YOU TELL THE WORLD WHO YOU ARE, OR AT LEAST THE STORY OF WHO YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE ON THAT PARTICULAR DAY. STYLE AFFORDS YOU OPPORTUNITIES. IT OPENS DOORS & ALLOWS YOU THE CHANCE TO SHOWCASE A FACET OF YOURSELF IN AN OBVIOUS AND INIMITABLE WAY.

excerpt from nina garcia's 'the little black book of style'