How our clothes grow up with us

Fashion, like life, moves in phases. And one day, somewhere between college fest outfits and office meetings, you wake up and realize that your wardrobe has quietly grown up with you.

Back in our early twenties, shopping meant grabbing whatever was on sale at top clothing brands, or that tiny boutique with neon signage and very questionable refund policies. We picked sequinned tops without thinking twice. If it shimmered, we wanted it. If it was bodycon, we believed we could pull it off.

But as the birthdays added up, so did a sense of shift — in how we shopped, how we dressed, and more importantly, how we felt in what we wore. Hitting 30 doesn’t come with a new manual (wish it did though!), but it does come with a certain clarity. You start choosing comfort over chaos. Suddenly, you’re checking fabric tags, calculating cost per wear, and using phrases like “classic silhouette” and “wardrobe staples”, phrases that 22-year-old us would probably roll eyes at.

Now it’s not about trendy, it’s about timeless. Linen shirts in soft hues, well-fitted jeans that don’t cut off circulation, kurtas that breathe with you through a long day — they all start making sense. Gold hoops replace loud earrings. A structured bag feels like an investment. And somehow, black becomes a comfort colour.

But here’s the thing, this shift isn’t boring. In fact, it’s liberating. When you’re no longer dressing to “fit in” or impress, you’re dressing to express your values, your vibe, your version of ease and elegance. There’s a certain confidence in knowing what works for you, even if it means repeating the same trousers with five different tops (a solid win, if you ask me).

What we used to call a “mood” — boho one day, minimal the next — now feels more like intentional styling. We’ve learnt how to layer, how to mix fabrics, how to wear the same outfit to a family lunch and a team dinner with just a few accessory tweaks. That’s not just growing up but levelling up too.

I won’t lie, I still have a few dresses tucked away (some things are sentimental, okay?). But today, I find myself reaching more for pieces that feel like me, not just look good on me. And maybe that’s what fashion is really about — reflecting not just the trends, but the transitions.

So, if you’re feeling 30 (or 32, or 29 and holding), know that it’s okay if your fashion sense has evolved. It’s okay to let go of the glittery top that saw you through three birthdays and a breakup. And it’s absolutely okay to spend a little extra on that kurta that makes you feel quietly confident.

Because fashion isn’t about staying 21 forever. It’s about growing into yourself — stylishly, slowly, and one soft cotton shirt at a time.

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