Diana Vreeland famously once said, “A little bad taste is like a nice splash of paprika. We all need a splash of bad taste- it’s hearty, it’s healthy, it’s physical. I think we could all use more of it. No taste is what I’m against.” I wholeheartedly agree! I think that finding your personal style and sartorial voice is a case of trial-and-error; a road that is often fraught with mistakes and missteps. And that’s great! I think that if you’re making mistakes, you’re trying new things and being unique. If you’ve ever watched Project Runway, you know… you’ll get eliminated for being “boring” and “safe” before you’ll get eliminated for a creative epic fail. Being a trendsetter requires you to step out and trailblaze, which oftentimes elicits some skepticism and debate.
Some of the most stylish women end up on the worst dressed list from time to time. Style stars like Rihanna, Kate Moss, and Gwyneth Paltrow are no stranger to both the best AND worst dressed lists. Even the eternally fashionable Princess Diana ended up on Mr Blackwell’s Worst Dressed List in 1982! (I have made my own fair share of HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE sartorial decisions!) The important thing, in fashion, as in life, is to take those mistakes, learn from them, and move forward. Don’t ever let the fear of being on a worst dressed list hinder you from fashion risk-taking! Tell me: How about you? What bad fashion decisions have you made, and what have you learned from them?
