“I think finding your personal style is about living your life,” says Dahana, an artist and graphic designer based in Strasbourg, France. “You walk around and you see something and you think, Oh, I want to incorporate that color or texture“. Here, Dahana shares five looks that, as she describes with a laugh, “a vibe that I wear only for myself”…
Jersey: Elwood. Skirt: Catholic. Dress: Catholic. Shoes: Adidas. Bag: Mani. Hair Tie: Haas Amsterdam.
“When I was in high school, we were going to a wedding and my mom told me to wear heels. But I had foot problems, so I wore Doc Martens with a dress. I also like sneakers with dresses. Outfits – If I go to a fancy restaurant, I just have to decide which one to wear.
Jersey: Elwood. Denim jacket: Estudio Niksen. Pants: Estudio Niksen, similar. Package: Sun Nei. Shoes: New Balance. Earrings: Sunny. Ring: Frugality.
“Wearing dark jeans and a dark denim jacket, I feel like no one can stop me. It’s also an easy outfit to throw together when you don’t have a lot of time.
“Spring and fall are my favorite seasons to dress because you can wear a cute jacket or a colorful sweater. But in the summer, I get sweaty as soon as I step outside. On warm days, even if you wear a T-shirt and shorts, jewelry is also a way to add style.
Shirt: Celosia-re, white. Skirt: “Handmade by my mom,” something like that. Shoes: Ganni. Bag: Polène. Sunglasses: Chimi.
“I was very shy, so in high school, fashion felt like a good way to express myself—even though I was made fun of. Then I went to college, but it didn’t feel good. I stopped caring about the way I dressed; I just wanted to Put some clothes on. But a few years ago, I thought, Wait, I love fashion, I have to find a way to love myself again. I feel good about what I wear these days and I feel good inside.
Jersey: Sandro. Skirt: Samso. Shoes: Enthusiastic. Bag: Sandro. Scrunchie: “Handmade by my mom.”
“Art has always been another way to express yourself. People usually stop drawing once they start school. You’re told to focus on math or science, but I’m neither a math person nor a science person. In class, I’m the one who attracts different looks on my notebook.
“When I see a well-dressed person, even if it’s not my style, I can’t deny it. Even though I’m shy, I have to let them know. I cheer myself up first: Dahana! Go tell her! Now is the time! I know it gives me a huge confidence boost when someone stops me and compliments me on my outfit.
Dress: Eliza Faulkner. Shoes: Ganni. Bag: Jigsaw puzzle, similar. Sunglasses: Ace & Tate. Scrunchie: Nasty girl.
“When I see a piece of clothing I like, I ask myself, Can I find it at a thrift store? If I can’t find something vintage, I’ll put it aside for a week or two before deciding whether to buy it or not. Or if I have a costume vision in mind but can’t find it online, I’ll say, “Mom, can we do this?” She made me a black dress and every time I wore it, people would Ask where it comes from. I’m proud to say, ‘My mom made this for me!’
“Another test on whether to buy something: I would try to mentally create 10 different outfits around it. If you can only create one or two, you probably don’t need it.
“Your hair is part of your outfit. You can’t forget it. I love scrunchies because they add color to my hair. I follow a woman on Instagram called Kayra who does so many amazing looks with braids. thing. She created a masterpiece.
Thank you so much for sharing, Dahana.
PS More women share what they’ve been dressing for weeks, including a gardener who overcame a stutter and a stripe lover who talks about losing his dad.
(Photo by Vanessa A. Photography.)
