hmmmm....

I found myself running into this question today.
What makes someone an individual?

Today, as I stood in my closet in a wifebeater and boyshorts, deciding what to wear, it wasn't as if I thought to myself,
"How can I stand out from everyone around me today?"
No. I just picked out what visually pleased me.
Today that happened to be as follows:
-a scoop neck three quarter sleeve black sweater dress that hits just above the knee
-purple tights
-hot pink knees socks
-black high heeled suede boots
-a collection of silver bangles
-a skinny teal scarf
-black ray bans
-and a silver necklace

To add to the assortment, my hair had been recently died to an almost obnoxiously dark shade of chesnut, and my skin has never been paler, so in some ways I guess I leaned toward contrast.

But in choosing this ensemble, I wasn't trying to make a statement, I was just being myself.
So, if this outfit was a reflection of myself, am I a statement?

And what necessarily makes a statement?
Is it bright colors, or loud jewelry? Or bold make up? Or a pretty purse?

Today as I walked through Green Hills, I attracted many looks and received several compliments about my "bold style".

So, for the majority of the day, I was pleased with the thought that I processed "bold style".
That was until I went to my grandfather's birthday party.

I walked into the dining room of Richland Country Club to my waiting family, only to see my sister wearing a practically indentical outfit.

The colors were different, and she lacked the tights and socks, but the resemblance was remarkable. Even her layered red hair was pulled back in the same way as mine.

But my sister didn't look bold. She didn't look edgy. She just looked like a cute girl in a sweaterdress.

So why should people tell me I'm bold, and that my sister is cute?
I came to this conclusion.
It's not the clothes that make the statement, it's how the person in the clothes wears them.
If you compare my sister's personality and mine, they couldn't be more different.
My sister likes to plan everything out, I'm spontaneous. My sister pays attention to detail, and I blow through things. She likes quiet, I have to have music. She loves to socialize, I would rather sit and write.

By wearing practically the same outfit, and having completely different reactions from
outsiders, my sister and I are a small example of a much bigger picture. Individuality is not created, it is innately possessed.
Whether I am bold, or an individual, i couldn't really give a damn.
I just want to wear my hot pink knee socks.