“Before You Speak, You’ve Already Been Heard: How Fashion Defines You”
“First impressions are made long before you utter a word.”
They say the first impression is the last — but let’s go deeper. That impression isn’t born when you shake a hand or start speaking. It’s already sealed when you walk into the room.
What you wear — how you wear it — how strongly you take up space, that’s what introduces you. The way your shoulders sit, the rhythm of your walk, and the silent dialogue between your garment and your gaze — that’s where fashion speaks. And if you’re not careful, it might speak for you. Don’t let your clothes wear you. You wear the clothes.
Styling is an art form. It’s not about extravagance or how many trends you can stack in one outfit. You could be in a basic t-shirt and a pair of skinny jeans — but it’s the knot on the side, the one ring you decided to wear today, or the unexpected texture you added that makes it yours. That detail, that twist, that rebellion — that’s what defines you.
I don’t believe in over-accessorizing. I don’t believe in overdressing. I believe in over-doing it only when you’ve lost your sense of balance. Style isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing you — confidently, consciously, and without apology.
Let’s be clear — style isn’t just clothing. It’s your mouth when you speak, your eyes when you hold someone’s gaze, your posture when you sit. It’s energy. It’s presence.
So why wear something that betrays your confidence?
Wearing something uncomfortable shows. It leaks into your movements, your body language, your hesitation. And honestly, no silhouette is worth shrinking yourself into.
Fashion is not universal. It’s personal. It’s not a rulebook. It’s not a Pinterest board. It’s individualistic. Subjective. What I dislike, you might fall in love with. That’s okay. But if you’re wearing something only because it’s popular — not because it flatters your body, aligns with your identity, or lifts your spirit — then you’ve handed over your voice to someone else’s algorithm.
Learning your body is not vanity. It’s respect. You owe it to yourself to know what works on you — and why. Understand your proportions. Know how certain fabrics flow. Recognize what cinches and what overpowers. That’s not insecurity. That’s intelligence.
Even androgynous fashion — fluid, unapologetic — is rooted in self-expression. Drag, for instance, might be called “over-the-top” by some, but let’s not forget: it takes tremendous courage to show up as who you are, especially when the world is constantly trying to edit you.
So yes — fashion defines you before you even realize it. And if you’re not careful, it will define you inaccurately.
Make it yours.
⸻
– Srishti Suri
Founder, Don’t tell mama
