We began with the philosophy of personal travel, the kind that is story driven and full of flourishing relationships. Going to a new country, alone or not, is a thrill on its own. Seeing different cultures, and meeting individuals with different perspectives become the crux and main motivator of travelling. With that in mind, travelling to a new place versus moving there have different underlying feelings. When you move to a new place, you’re bound to develop new habits and experience shifts in lifestyle and personality – intentionally or not. As you explore and learn about the culture of the city you’re in, these changes bring about growth and change, to your personal style as well.
Here are 7 reasons why your style changes when you move to a new place:
1. Weather Conditions
If you’re used to wearing shorts and sandals on a regular day and you’ve just moved to a city where it snows 6 months out of the year, a change of style becomes pertinent mainly for your survival. There’s an art to layering clothes, and once you get used to the little details, it makes all the difference in how you go about your day. Same with warmer, more humid cities – light and breathable fabrics become a priority.
2. Dressing for the Part
Depending on what your purpose of moving cities was, there is a need to dress appropriately for the occasion. Some cities have more professional standards of dressing, whereas some prefer to keep it casual, and you can pick up on these unspoken rules within the first few weeks. Along with dressing for your workplace, there has to be a consideration for the practicality of your outfit. If you know you’ll be walking around a lot on cobblestone streets and in the subway, to and from work, comfortable shoes will be your most valued investment.
3. Peer Pressure is Real
Coming to a new city without knowing anyone can be a difficult experience. It helps to find people with common interests and spend time with them, which usually means partaking in the same activities. In an effort to fit in better with the local crowd, you might resort to dressing in a similar way – not necessarily to copy their style, but embody the parts you like and add a personal touch to it.
4. New Habits, New Outfits
Moving to a new city gives you the chance to try out new hobbies. Maybe you live near a beach, or you joined a CrossFit class – these new habits will change your way of dressing. Your style changes in subtle ways to accommodate to your lifestyle.
5. Culture Shock
All cities have their own panache, but the attitude – be it conservative or modern, can dictate how everyone dresses. The shift in culture will take some getting used to, and with it comes shifts in your own choices, as to what you choose to wear each morning.
6. Big City Fashion VS Small Town Style
There’s a distinction between how people dress in big metropolitan cities versus smaller towns, because of the availability of a wider range of brands and products. Usually, small towns exude a singular way of dressing, as everyone may be buying clothes from the same shops, and prefer to stick to what they like. In cities, with many luxury brands, high street fashion as well as smaller boutiques spread around. Meaning there are plenty of opportunities to try out different styles until something feels like it’s meant for you.
7. No Better Time to Experiment
It’s a new city, with new experiences, so this is a great excuse to try things you didn’t before. Experimenting with bold printed pants, a new hairstyle, or even reaching for those forgotten pieces of clothing in the back of your closet could be a way to widen your comfort zone, and find out what you like and don’t like from the mix.
Change is necessary when you’re in a new place, but it doesn’t have to be a drastic one. Some may discover a whole new side to their personalities, and bring it out in their clothes, and some might embrace the local culture by incorporating and trying new styles, but in the end it’s a decision you make. All in all, a new city has a way of wrapping around your everyday choices, and this stays with you long after you leave.
We’d love to know how your style changed when you moved to a new place, let us know in the comments below.