Personal taste is a rebellion.

Taste isn’t fixed – it’s a combination of instinct, exposure, aspiration, insecurity, culture, memory, and confidence. The people with the most compelling taste usually allow themselves to evolve publicly instead of forcing themselves into one identity forever.
The friction of not knowing something immediately, of having to research, of having to experience it yourself, is exactly how your ‘taste’ is formed. It has to be built; it cannot be transferred.
In my opinion, style needs to be formed to be owned.
Honestly, gatekeeping might be the protection for your opinions, perspective, and your TASTE. If you deleted your feed today… would your style survive?
People think style is something you just have.. but I think it’s meant to be built. And most of us are borrowing it. Trends and fast fashion make us want things before we actually decide that we want them. Once something starts circulating, it’s suddenly EVERYWHERE. And social media is the main pipeline.
Original vs. Curated
I’ve been told that I have a style that sets me apart from the crowd. But my style has come with an evolution. I started making intentional decisions to really get to know myself and what I like. I’ve started experimenting with different silhouettes, textures, and aesthetics. When I’m going out with friends, I stopped asking them what they plan on wearing. Within exploring cultures, people, and art. I simply wear what I want.
In fashion, taste signals what you know and what you’ve been exposed to. I’m always telling others that you should have a deep love or curiosity for people and culture because anyone can throw on the outfit but taste helps decode why it works together.
Authentic taste requires self trust.
When your taste evolves, blends influences, or changes as you grow, people can’t categorize you as quickly. That can create confusion – not necessarily because your taste is bad, but because it’s harder to predict. You’re changing and they’re still using an old version of you.
If you’re finding that everything you choose still feels authentically you- even if the pieces seem different on the surface, then you’re probably developing a personal point of view rather than a commonly fixed aesthetic. No one else can directly tell you whether a piece of music, food, art, clothing, or lifestyle choice resonates with you. Authentic taste depends on paying attention to your own reactions and believing they are meaningful.
That said, authentic taste is not the same as ignoring others. Other people’s perspectives can refine, challenge, and deepen your preferences. Self-trust simply means that, after considering those influences, you remain willing to rely on your own experience as the final source of judgment.
Leave a comment