*This is a collaborative post*
People often think about making big fashion statements and changing their appearance, but many will shy away from this. It is understandable that making large changes to your appearance can be daunting (especially if you have not done it before), but these risks are often worth taking because they can bring a number of benefits.
Positive Impact on Your Life
You will find that making changes to your appearance can give you a mental health boost, improve the way in which you are perceived by others and shake up the regular routine of your life, all at the same time. Many people find that making some form of change can inspire further positive change and allow them to start a new chapter in their life, so it is certainly worth considering, especially if you have been having a difficult time recently.
Baby Steps
It will always be daunting to change your appearance and to take risks but there are ways that you can reduce this anxiety. One of the most effective ways is to take a few small risks initially, as opposed to jumping in the deep end with a drastic new haircut. As an example, if you only wear jeans and trousers then you could start by wearing long women’s skirts, which will be a big change, but not one which is a huge leap to make. Once you start to make small changes like this, it allows you to gradually refresh your entire look while also making you less risk-adverse, so the bigger leaps become much smaller.
Timing
Additionally, you might find it helpful to make these changes during quiet periods where you may not see anyone for a while, such as whilst being on holiday. If you worry about how people that you know will react, then you will want to try these changes away from them and build confidence with your new look before seeing people. You might find it helpful to ask for honest feedback from those closest to you, to see how others react before showing off your new look in front of the rest of your world.
Finding Inspiration
You can also spend time researching and finding fashion styles that you like and then try to replicate these. It is helpful to take inspiration from celebrities and other people that you admire, but remember not to copy them directly and try to retain some of your own style and personality which can help to make the transition easier.
Making changes to your appearance can be daunting but these are often risks which pay off and can positively impact many different areas of your life. It can be hard to take these risks, but hopefully this post will inspire you to make changes and have fun whilst doing it!