Style vs. Fashion

I've been wanting to write an article about the important and marked difference between style and fashion for a while.  I saw this article today and it perfectly gets to the point of what I think; it is most definitely worth reading:

The Style Imperative

The difference between style and fashion is exceptionally important, especially as someone who can't buy a new wardrobe every season.  Fashion can be very easy -- anyone can wear the exact outfit shown on a runway, with the fiscal availability, of course.  It's so much harder to have style, though.  It means seeing beyond the label, seeing beyond what everyone else is doing, and making something work for you.  This is a much bigger challenge and shows infinitely more skill than just being able to regurgitate "fashion." 

Style can be anything from knowing how to put just the right pieces together to accepting that not all fads and fashions will work on your body -- and not forcing them.  Understanding what works with not only your body, but your personality and persona is key, too --if the clothing is wearing the person, it can look like a costume.

Style absolutely must be honed and encouraged, and it often doesn't come easily.  When something just clicks, though, it's apparent and well worth it.

My favorite part of the above article is the final thought:

"As the speed of all our transactions increases, we need fast ways of transmitting information about ourselves without losing authenticity; we have less and less time to make our mark in other, more leisurely ways of knowing. Style, like a perfectly fitting book jacket, evokes the substance within by way of the surface. It makes an authentic visual impression, is a memorable mark of identity in a world that otherwise strips people of identity. There was a time when style was a luxury. Today it is a necessity."