# data[].attributes.body
The evolution of fashion and self-expression as a whole in societies is a complicated history. For me, style wasn't a big part of who I am. Appearance is a concept jammed into people since they were children that we have to dress and look a certain way to be presentable.
My appearance is important to me still regardless of its connotations. Down to its basics, our needs starting with waking up, taking a shower, and brushing my teeth. The pandemic took away my appearance in some way. I don't pick an outfit anymore. It is just changing into another loose t-shirt and leggings. Comfort and not being strained to what you have to wear are strange to see in this dystopian reality.
I always wore leggings and a big shirt anyways since I thought you couldn't wear certain things if your body doesn't look good in them. High-waisted jeans and a crop top were too much for some of me even. I was luckily not hit on or seen as desirable by older men, so that didn't hinder me fashion-wise.
Starting to explore fashion as a 12-year old I wore things that hid my body like long flowy dresses. It's 2012 and I wasn't confident enough to wear mid-rise jeans since my body didn't look like other girls. I only started to wear jeans in 2015 when high-rise jeans came back in style. After high school ended I kinda wore what I wanted with tube tops and shorts even Style really is also influenced by what people think. I know people deny it but we want approval for how we act and look.
When wearing things I like, high-waisted baggy jeans, tube tops, and tight skirts to name a few. I often noticed or maybe even imagined people looking at me strangely for how I dressed.
In the present now with the pandemic it influenced or even made me want wishful dreaming outfits for when the pandemic is over. I am definitely influenced by societal norms with trends and want what is "in". Pretty petite long dresses with perfectly combed buns, down to the revival of 2000s trends of matching outfit sets with chunky hair clips. Even silky midrise dresses are coming back something I want to wear too.
The questioning of body culture and perception made certain outfits undesirable—low-rise jeans and whale tails, something I really love, aren't seen as good fashion.
Also as a woman, we already are seen as obsessed with fashion and "high maintenance". These connotations make wanting to get into fashion and exploring it a bad thing. That tight clothes are "in" but at the same time aren't. Modesty is seen as the right thing to do but really isn't enforced. I've been told that I can't really wear that for how I look. All these factors influence my style with wanting to be or wear all of these things. That style is also a coping mechanism a way to escape things.
When wearing clothes I like baggy paper bag shorts with a cute cardigan it makes me feel happy. Wearing whatever you want is sort of freeing in a way that I have not been able to explore or experience much.