Being called "weird" is a strange thing when you don't feel weird. I found that all throughout high school I was labeled "weird" for the way I dressed, even to the point that I was driven to stop having a personal style of my own and gave into what is referred to as "basic". More on that later, but, this draws me to wonder now, as a college student who is often complimented on my style and clothing, am I still weird? Was I ever?

The idea of personal style for people my age (millennials, or whatever we're called now) does not range very far from what is sold in your typical shopping mall stores, H&M, Forever 21, etc. For girls in particular, not even the men's side of these stores are picked over for a-typical fashion finds. I wonder why this is very frequently, as someone who loves to thrift for unique pieces and almost never buys clothing that "fits" because that's what I tend to gravitate to. When I wore pieces that I loved to high school I was ridiculed and condemned back to the narrow confines of current "trends" or lack thereof.

The summer after my senior year I really found my personal style and I hold true to that now. College is a much more free flowing place to actually be yourself and express your personality and identity how you see best fits.

Lets touch upon a few related topics; like the word "basic". What I mean by basic is the notion that outfits, trends and even specific pieces can be seen on every street corner worn by several people in the exact same way. Now, I would never condemn anyone for the way they dress, even outfits that I would never wear or don't like I can recognize as someone else's personal style. But for me, these "basic" pieces and outfits just didn't work out. I am not comfortable presenting myself to a world of people wearing skinny jeans and a fitted cotton t-shirt. I just can't do it and I really won't ever. But once again, if that is your personal style, go you. Rock it, live it, wear it. For me, I just can't.

The importance of personal style has really shown itself these past few weeks. Walking down the street and being complimented for a jacket I customized myself or even the way I wore a pair of 34" waist men's jeans with a belt tied around them twice really is the best part of any day. The worst part is when people tell me that they could "never pull off something like that" as if a certain person is only allowed into certain looks. Fashion, style and trends are for everybody no matter what they typically wear.

What I do to inspire my personal style is take a look at any character or person I've ever really loved the look of. Even Will Smith in Fresh Prince can give me some inspiration. Am I a teen boy in the 90's? No. But I can still be inspired by one. And I think that's where a lot of people fall off in style, they think they can only be inspired or take from looks worn by someone of their gender, body type or even culture. Anything can be inspiration for style. The same goes for makeup looks, see a jacket you love the color of? Recreate it in a makeup look. Thinking outside the box is key for achieving a real tried and true style for yourself.

Even if you have to be "weird", be yourself and surround yourself with people who wouldn't condemn you to anything but your best self.