The Clothes You Hate at 19 Will Raise You at 30

How our clothes will age you through the wrinkles you haven’t ironed

April 2026 Written By Kiki Pape

Suddenly, you’re in your childhood bedroom, and you find a piece that makes it clear that time has changed. You were looking for something to throw on, and it turns into something that makes you stop in your tracks and remember a moment associated with that outfit. It makes you question, 'Why did I ever buy this?'

When you look at the outfits you wore when you were younger, they are either painfully out of style and make you cringe, or it is harder to put on the pair of jeans that you once admired in high school because your body has changed.

This is the thing about clothing: it can really show how time has changed. With life so crazy, clothing can be a grounding reminder of its impact over time.

Looking at your own life in terms of clothes, you can recognize different eras of your life that are significant, along with the corresponding feelings you had at the time. Wearing sweats in high school because you were insecure versus the outfits you've worn to parties in college significantly shows what kind of person you were at different stages in your life.

Growing up, I was a free spirit when it came to my clothing. I was definitely someone who beat to her own drum. I would have my biggest fights with my mom when I was younger about what I wanted to wear, until she gave up. I was convinced that the clothes that were “fashionable” at the time were better than whatever my mom thought.

I wanted to be someone who stood out through the voice of my clothing when words didn’t always make sense for me.

Being shy at the beginning of my childhood, I was very adept at speaking through my clothing. My clothing spoke before I could even speak. Honestly, I liked it better that way.

It’s funny how when you look at others, you think the person with the boldest fashion has a bold personality, but it can certainly be the opposite. That is the power of fashion. It can give a voice to anyone who can’t find it.

Self-expression through clothing sometimes felt like a costume for me, in a good way. That’s especially why I loved Halloween—being able to wear anything you want and become whoever you want. But it makes me question: why can’t every day be like that?

From being a free-spirited, fashionable little girl, life showed me that it is definitely not as easy as it seems. Puberty, boys, mean girls, social media, etc., can sometimes ruin a unique, fashionable spirit. Feeling uncomfortable in your own skin is the worst, especially when you have a ton of unused clothing at home.

Trying to blend in because the people around you are wearing whatever seems credible to a fifteen-year-old. That conformity can be really draining for anyone. You look around, and the camouflage acts as a comfort blanket, not a stylish jacket—just trying to survive the day.

Therefore, the need to conform became part of my daily routine. And yet, my true sense of fashion still came through as I grew older.

I have taken some key ideals that have stayed true to myself. I have always preached that if you look good, you’ll do good. From exams to dates to every part of life, making confidence the main part of your life, not something you leave in your closet. 

Looking at my fashion stats, I have always achieved the best parts of life in my most stylish pieces. I graduated from college in Frye boots, started my first business wearing a beret, published my children’s book in a pink gown, and have many more looks to name and capture on my Instagram story.

I don’t believe there’s a right or wrong way to be fashionable or stylish. I truly believe it only matters if you are happy, because there is nothing worse than someone making you feel bad about your outfit.

So the next time you see an old college photo or a pair of jeans that makes you cringe, take another look, because you'll remember why this all makes you happy.