I was in ninth grade when I first felt the shame associated with stepping outside of the style box.

I had a spring in my step as I arrived at the bus stop, wearing my usual flared jeans and a t-shirt labeled ABERCROMBIE in all caps (oh, the brand name obsession of the ’00s). I was feeling extra stylish.

You see, I was rocking a brand new hairstyle that day.

That morning I had watched a Youtube tutorial and attempted my first-ever braided bun. It looked, well, as good as you’d expect for a first attempt. But I was happy with my efforts. Until I got to school.

First, a friend asked me if she could braid my hair for me. Then she told me, smiling apologetically, “I think your bun needs a tighter hair tie. Here! Borrow mine!” Another friend giggled that the headband I had added was on the verge of falling off my head. The comments continued from there, until I finally took the bun out, defeated.

Thank you, world, for showing me what it means to be self-conscious!

Now that I’m in college, I’ve become more confident in my style choices. Gone are the dark days when I precariously balanced trying to be trendy with trying to blend into the wallpaper. 

The most important lesson I’ve learned is that true confidence is not something you acquire overnight. It is a state of mind, and it takes time to develop. That being said, there are some things you can do today to inch closer to your most confident self.

Below, I’ve detailed a game plan to increase your fashion confidence. With a little effort, you can slay the Fear monster that stands between you and wearing what you want, and most importantly, being who you want to be.

Table of Contents

Method 1: Accept the past. Claim it! OWN IT. Don’t deny it!

This method is for the girl who says “Yeah, I went through a phase where I just wore polos with pleated skirts,” and then corrects herself with “But it’s all good now! That weirdo basically does not exist anymore, HA!”