"Tun yu han mek fashion" - Get Creative!

As a Jamaican child, I grew up hearing the Patois phrase "tun yu han mek fashion", which simply means 'get creative to come up with a solution'. And to many extents, Jamaicans have done just so - clothes, food and hairstyles. But what seems not to be esteemed in our culture is the idea of wearing someone else's old clothes. Family hand-me-downs of course fall into an entirely different category, those are somewhat acceptable. But a stranger's - from foreign places or greener pastures - is just a big no no. Call it pride or superstition - old bruk is old bruk.

Then I came upon Jessica Shroeder's blog - What I Wore and did my mind change! The site blogs pictures of outfits Jessica wore, usually the day before - to work, the park, a date with the boyfriend, on a slow day or some other event. The outfits are usually pretty, sometimes striking but always creative and vintage. That's right vintage! All her ensembles incorporate some vintage piece that she's thrifted, sometimes modified (by her very own sewing hands) and paired with complementary modern pieces from your regular department store such as Target. She details the source of every piece she wears - jewellery, blouse, skirt, dress, shoes, belt, handbag, you name it.

The best part about the site is that the ordinary girl can identify with Jessica, because she is just that, ordinary! A likeable girl with a keen fashion sense but one who will not bend over backwards to slave for the labels machine. She shows how with just a little creativity, mixing up your favourite pieces and a few vintage pieces, you can be fashionable, beautiful and creative. And yes, like us she is often seen in the same pair of sandals. And why not, if you love them? Talk about 'tun yu han mek fashion'!