Style isn’t just about clothes, it’s about growth, identity, and transformation. Over the last ten years, my wardrobe has evolved alongside my life, reflecting everything from career milestones to personal challenges to creative exploration. Looking back from 2015 to 2025, I can trace a full arc: from a post-grad Instagram girl in skinny jeans to a minimalist with a deep love for ease, polish, and individuality. Here’s my style evolution, year by year.
2015: The Post-Grad Crop Top Era
Fresh out of college, my wardrobe reflected the carefree spirit of a twenty-something still figuring it all out. Crop tops reigned supreme, paired with Urban Outfitters finds and the quintessential skinny jeans of the decade. It was a style rooted in youthful rebellion and affordability, accessible, fun, and very “Instagram 2015.”
2016: Polished Beginnings at MADE
As I began interning and working at MADE New York, my style matured. I leaned into a more polished look, favoring black, leather, and neutrals. It was my introduction to the fashion industry from the inside out, and my wardrobe mirrored the professionalism and edge I was surrounded by in New York.
2017: A Burst of Color and Creativity
This was a year of experimentation and self-expression. Inspired by photoshoots for my blog, I embraced looser silhouettes and injected vibrant color into my wardrobe. Moving through grief also played a role in this chapter, and wearing bold shades became a way to hold onto joy and light.
2018: Polished Meets Playful
By 2018, I was merging my colorful experimentation with the refined style I’d grown into. Tailored suits, sleek slips, and effortlessly chic ensembles defined my look. It was a balance of structure and play, proving that minimalism and personality could coexist.
2019: Easy Breezy Polished
This year brought a softer, more relaxed approach. My looks were still minimal and sleek but leaned casual and approachable. It was polished without pretense, the kind of style that felt effortless while still put-together.
2020: Transformation in Lockdown
The year began strong, but when the pandemic hit, everything shifted. I’d already started wearing sweatsuits before lockdown, a foreshadowing of the uniform to come. Style became about comfort and necessity, echoing the personal and professional shedding I was experiencing. Cutting my hair into a pixie symbolized this shift, and my wardrobe followed suit: sleek, pared down, and intentional.
2021: Minimalism, Perfected
This was one of my favorite style eras. I doubled down on clean, minimal dressing wearing only a few pieces but letting them tell the story. Each look was sharp, considered, and deeply aligned with the pared-down vision I’d embraced.
2022: Minimalist, But Never Boring
Minimalism remained my core, but I pushed it further. Playing with textures, subtle pops of color, and unexpected details, I proved that pared-down didn’t have to mean plain. This was the year I fully owned my identity as a “minimal girl” while still keeping things fun and individualistic.
2023: Monochromatic Ease
My style took on a more monochrome palette this year, focusing on fluidity and simplicity. Less was truly more, and I became deeply fluent in my personal style language. Every outfit was simple, yet impactful.
2024: Casual, But Elevated
By 2024, I could feel a more casual sensibility slipping into my high-style looks. Outfits were still polished and show-stopping, but they were quieter less about spectacle, more about impact through restraint. Casual didn’t mean sloppy; it meant confident ease.
2025: Full Circle — The Amalgamation
Now, in 2025, my style feels like an amalgamation of everything I’ve worn before. There are echoes of the 2015 Instagram girl, flashes of my colorful phase, and always the foundation of minimalism. The difference is that I no longer feel the need to “dress up” for the sake of it. I’m comfortable in easy, elevated casual pieces that do the talking for me. I know I can always turn up the volume when needed, but day-to-day, I prefer to let my wardrobe reflect a confident, go-with-the-flow approach.
Ten years of style means ten years of growth. From crop tops to capsule dressing, from colorful experiments to minimalist mastery, my wardrobe has mirrored my evolution as a person. Looking back, every phase had its place, its purpose, and its impact. And while I don’t know exactly where I’ll evolve next, I do know one thing: my style will continue to grow with me.
