Dilek Aspires: THAT I-MEAN-BUSINESS MOMENT

As you may know, I have been busy these days due to my midterms, so in lieu of more recent outfit photos, I offer you these photos from almost a year ago when I attended a conference at Maltepe University in Istanbul. It was my first public speaking event and, during my presentation, I wore another outfit whereas this one was for the commemoration photos. I met wonderful people there, including great girls from Kazakhstan. Whenever I see these photos, I can't help but laugh a little because whereas here I support a confident ready-for-business look, in my pre-presentation photos I look pale and ready to faint. I recall losing my voice that very morning and eating 10 small packages of honey, which - luckily - helped.

I always end-up reading these posts where the writer tells you how you should have some staples in your wardrobe, especially if the public is currently exaggeratedly into them, which, if you think about it, makes them inessential.

Aren’t staples different for everybody? If I need something in my closet does that automatically makes it a prerequisite for you the next time you decide to shop?

I know that some are just friendly advice – I mean what are you doing on a fashion blogger’s page or style website if not to get advice and inspiration? - while others entail filling blank posts they need to get out in order to get their readership for the day, but when I read the words “pieces you must have in your wardrobe” I just lift my brow and think “…no I don’t.” I'd rather read "Our staples" or "Current trends".

Take these images for example.: in one of those posts, I have read that everybody has to have one stripped shirt and one pair of white pants in their closet (especially this season), and now imagine I am telling you that a white blazer should also be your staple. If you have one, fine. If you don’t, do you have to run to the store and buy it?

Now do not misunderstand me, people telling you what staples are surely don’t have the imminent goal to invoke the insatiable consumerist within you (well… not all of them at least). Some are just, as I said, friendly advice people offer to help their readers.

Now here is my point: I know that we live in an overly consumerist societies where we all have things we do not need but want, yet I think that we should be able to make a distinction between what we want and what others think we want. People out there make a light use of the word "must", and it often invokes a certain necessity in us to do something. This "necessity" often ends up irritating us especially if we are financially unable to make that purchase. I know that a source of self-efficacy is often other people’s achievement, and that is a fine motivator if you ask me. Yet, I think that each of us should feel that the choices we are making are our own.