Since watching the met gala in May, I’ve been thinking about my personal style and how it’s evolved from the end of last year until now. The more I reflected on it, the more I realized I had been changing long before I noticed it myself. There’s been a shift in my personal style this year—I’ve been willing to experiment with clothes without dreading the idea of being judged. My style tends to lean more preppy—loafers, polos, nicely made trousers, and knitwear. Because of that, I developed a fear of looking out of place due to “dressing too nice.” In hindsight, I’m a firm believer in being overdressed than underdressed. That’s what I took away from the event—be willing to experiment, explore your personal style, and don’t let people’s opinions dictate how you dress.
Experimentation is how you discover your style
My plan since the start of 2026 was to purchase clothes made from natural fibers and experiment with looser fits. One piece that represents that change more than anything else is my pair of high-waisted, straight-fit Italian wool trousers from Banana Republic. I’ve never owned a pair of pants I’ve loved more—in fact, I liked them so much that I bought a second pair in navy blue. I love the feel of the wool. It’s soft, fluid, and drapes naturally in a way that completely changed how I think about the silhouette of my outfits. I used to wear Uniqlo’s ankle pants—no hate—but after owning these, it’s impossible for me to go back.
Along the way, I also learned a few things about wool that I never expected. I was surprised by how odor-resistant it is. By steaming the trousers and letting them air out after wearing them, I’ve been able to get multiple wears before washing them, and they still smell fresh. More importantly, buying these trousers taught me that experimenting with different fabrics and silhouettes can completely change the way an outfit looks and feels. It’s easy to get discouraged when you try something new and it doesn’t work out—I’ve been there—but taking that chance is how I discovered one of my favorite pieces in my wardrobe.
Dress in a way that feels authentic to you
The most important thing I’ve learned this year is dressing in a way that feels authentic to me instead of dressing for approval. I will say this—I’ve always dressed differently than family and friends growing up. I was the kid wearing vans while others wore Jordan’s. Naturally, as you get older you become more self-conscious and you compare yourself to other people. In my case—how I dressed compared to others. I worried I dressed too nice or looked like a geek, but I also know I’d rather not dress any other way. Now I’m starting to embrace and love the way I dress—I’m casually wearing loafers more often, tucking in my white tees, and wearing wider fit pants. I’m thinking less about the opinions of others and my style has improved because of it.
Conclusion
I was genuinely surprised by how much the met gala made me think about my personal style. It’s easy to underestimate how good clothes can make you feel and the event reminded me that clothes you enjoy wearing can boost your confidence. Gaining confidence has been something I’ve been working on for years. The celebrities at the event whether they truly were or not projected confidence. They weren’t afraid of experimenting or doing too much no matter how wacky their outfits may have looked to others because it wasn’t about needing permission from others—it’s choosing clothes you enjoy wearing and rocking it because they feel like you. One of the ways I’m building my confidence is through clothes—fabrics, silhouettes, loafers, and colors I like unapologetically. Confidence isn’t a lifelong thing—it comes and goes. I still question what others think about the way I dress, but I like my style and I’m not sacrificing my comfort for the approval of others. I’m wearing what I want to wear, how I want to wear it.