Feeling Mislabelled: When your personal style is misunderstood
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Feeling Mislabelled: When your personal style is misunderstood
The imposter: when aesthetics feel like costumes
It can feel embarrassing when you realise you’ve started dressing in a way that doesn’t quite reflect who you are, it might even feel disrespectful, especially if you admire a culture, subculture, or lifestyle but don’t live it yourself.
Sometimes, it’s not intentional. You just like the look, and it inspires you. But something still doesn’t sit right when people associate you with something you don’t actually align with. You don’t want to feel like a caricature of the real thing. That’s when clothing starts to feel more like a costume like you’re playing dress-up in a narrative that doesn’t belong to you.
While the phrase “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery” sounds nice, there’s a difference between taking inspiration and misrepresenting yourself. Many of us unconsciously believe that how we dress should reflect who we are and how we live and when there’s a mismatch, the style can feel hollow.
So what? Who cares?
It’s true, that these days there is some encouragement to wear what we want, when we want. And that can be a great thing. It gives us room to explore and experiment, and in some ways, it helps us consume fashion more sustainably by finding new ways to style what we already have.
But fashion is complex. And while freedom of expression is important, so is awareness of what we’re expressing especially when we’re stepping into styles that carry cultural or subcultural meaning.
The line between appreciation and appropriation is still a blurry one, and how we interpret that is personal. There’s a difference between wearing something because you like it and wearing it because you want to be something you’re not.
The caricature: when fashion feels forced
There’s a difference between being misunderstood and misrepresenting yourself. Some styles just don’t suit the life you actually live, and trying to force it can feel exhausting.
This often happens when we’re drawn to a certain aesthetic because of its mood or visual vibe but when we try to embody it fully, we realise it doesn’t align with our lifestyle, values, or personality. That’s when clothing starts to feel performative.
It can also happen when you’re buying into generic versions of a style. This is referring to mass-produced trends that mimic a popular look without the authenticity or detail that makes it meaningful. They may not suit your body type, lifestyle, or even the climate you live in, which makes the look harder to maintain and lets not forget, less enjoyable to wear.
Some aesthetics even imply harmful body ideals. Take Y2K, for example—it’s often linked with being ultra-thin, whether intentionally or not. But your body isn’t a trend, and no aesthetic should pressure you to shrink yourself to fit a certain image.
You don’t have to change your lifestyle to match a look. If anything, you should feel free to change the look to match you. That’s why sizing up or down shouldn’t feel like a defeat. Fashion should evolve with your needs, not demand that you evolve for it.
Somewhere in the middle
Sometimes it’s not that deep. You might be inspired by a culture you visited, a place you grew up, or a mix of both. Maybe your fashion sense reflects being part of a minority group, blending dress codes, or simply expressing something that doesn’t have a clear label.
In a way, this kind of styling is powerful. It challenges people’s assumptions. It can feel creative and even rebellious. When it’s instinctive and at times free spirited, it becomes a natural expression of all the influences you’ve picked up along the way.
The chameleon
Being a chameleon isn’t always a bad thing. It can be freeing. Adapting to different styles and environments can be fun, especially if you enjoy dipping into different fashion communities and learning through exposure.
The difference is whether you’re changing because you want to, or because you feel like you have to in order to fit in.
Let’s say you’re into indie rock. You enjoy the music, go to gigs, explore artists' interviews, you’ve genuinely immersed yourself. It makes sense that your personal style might evolve to reflect that.
Now imagine someone who only likes one indie rock song, but starts dressing in that aesthetic just to blend in with their friends. They’re not really into the lifestyle, and the clothes feel like a mask. Over time, the performance becomes draining. Noticed how this leans towards the caricature concept?
The intention behind your style makes all the difference. When it’s coming from an honest place, it’s expansive. When it’s coming from fear, it’s exhausting.
Final thoughts
It’s unrealistic an exhausting to let society or social media decide how you dress. But if your style starts to feel like a burden, it might be time to ask yourself whether it still fits you.
You’re the one who has to live with the emotional toll of being misread, misunderstood, or mislabelled. But you’re also the one who gets to decide how to respond.
This blog is from Sana Marks, a bags and accessories brand that merges 3D technology with fashion.