How traveling diversified my style?

Riding the London Underground and strolling through Montreal's metro exposed me to many different looks, which inspired me to experiment with my own.

My first trip to Europe was to London. 

Not knowing what to expect, I assumed it would be eerily similar to Boston. I was wrong; there were so many different people worldwide right in front of me. 

Through different looks and styles and ways of putting on a scarf and layering a trench coat, it truly channeled my stylistic, inventive inner self. 

In the tube stations, in between every stop, a new look would step in and out. I would see unique styles ranging from a girl with a bald look sporting tattoos covering her head, to a slender guy wearing a puffy corset jacket in dark green. 

It ultimately inspired me to try something new. 

My mesh top and over-the-shoulder hollow-out crop sweater remained buried in my suitcase. I struggled to find bottoms that fit the aesthetic I envisioned. But, right in the middle of all the clutter was my jackpot: a thrifted black parachute skirt. 

My roommate and I took many photos of my styled look. As the night set in, I put on my black leather-heeled boots and strutted the night away. 

It was my first time wearing a skirt — my hands were suddenly clammy and my legs were shaking. On a cloudy night in London, we walked through the jungle of Covent Garden on an unknown street with vibrant colored lights. 

The sidewalk is my runway, which leads to the gates of Heaven: the nightclub. Suddenly, I felt my anxiety stop and my confidence build.

From then on, I traveled more often and became more of myself. 

Montreal is a city that no one talks about. It is a small, artsy French-Canadian city where English and French are spoken. 

I thrifted a purple striped top with a zipper in between and Revolt jeans. Looking in the mirror, I felt like I had returned to the 1970s. 

I stepped onto the metro with a different look this time. I incorporated a grunge aesthetic with a lovely, subtle Parisian twist, emulating a chic Eurocentric look and expressing their unique style. 

When I thrifted at the city’s version of Goodwill, being Value Village, I found a black trench coat, a red leather skirt, and a Hello Kitty purse. 

When I got home, I washed everything and prepared for the night. It reminded me of when I was in London, but this time, I was all alone. I put on my outfit, inspired by the looks I saw on the metro. 

Then, I began to get innovative. I put on my thrifted Express jeans and black heels. I went to look in my carry-on for some fishnets. I used scissors to cut them up and used them as accessories for my arms. I also wore my Hello Kitty shirt and felt like I traveled back in time. 

As the night went on, I was so proud of my outfit and creativity. Meeting friends with similar vibes felt like we were meeting old friends. 

Fashion isn't just about comfort it's also about self-expression. Globally, there are many ways to express, and styles shift occasionally. I went from constantly wearing grey sweats and a hoodie to discovering ways to style my skirt, all thanks to the help of traveling.