Fifth Grade Me Would Love This Outfit

How early instincts can grow into what we wear now

Caroline Joy

Jun 18, 2025

I’m starting to think of personal style not as something you find or create…but as something that grows.

Like a garden.

A seed is planted — it could be a memory, an experience, a photo, a garment you love.

You tend a little.

And over time, it begins to grow.

For me, the seed of this outfit is rooted in fifth grade. Back then, *the* look was a big denim shirt and black leggings. Something about it made me feel grown up and confident, like my mom. I wasn’t into fashion yet, not really. But I knew that wearing a big denim shirt made me walk a little taller.

Personal style can begin in these soft, formative moments. And there’s something so comforting about that — the way that personal style grows over a lifetime.

It doesn’t have to be rushed. You can let the process unfold, naturally, over time.

You tend a little here, tend a little there. Pull weeds here. Add fertilizer there.

And like any regular garden, it’s never “done.” That, too, is a relief. When I catch myself wishing my wardrobe was done and perfect, I remember: Oh yeah, it’s a garden.

Sometimes your style teems with new life. Sometimes it feels dormant and stuck. But just like a garden, something’s still happening beneath the surface.

So when you feel drawn to something, trust it.

It’s a seed.

And following those quiet instincts is exactly how personal style grows. 🤍