Have you ever caught yourself enamoured by something in a shop window; your pupils dilate and your pulse quickens slightly as you crush hard on that item, just a little bit more than is probably considered healthy.

Your heart chimes in; “Oh my gods, I absolutely loooove that {insert Gorgeous AF item here}”

Only to be cut down very quickly with, “…but I couldn’t possibly pull it off, because I’m not _____ enough. That’s not me; I’m a ______.”  

The excitement you just felt quickly dies down, that warm glow fades, and before you know it you’ve simply walked on by and dismissed the thought of even trying it on because you have already decided that no matter how much it just made your soul sing, it’s not for people like you.

I’m not just talking body shapes here either, peeps. You fill in your own blanks.

Mmm Hmm. That’s right. You have, haven’t you? Me too.

Clearly, this is a pretty common experience; but why do we do this to ourselves? Why do we deny our passions and tastes in different styles? Tell ourselves we can’t have or be a certain thing?

As a society, we seem to have adopted a belief system that says that we must identify as something – that we must apply a single, primary label to ourselves – and then continue through life following some kind of self-imposed rule that defines what people under that title have to look, act and feel like. That deviating outside of that somehow makes us wrong or not our “real” selves.

When I began creating products and designs for Artemiss Creations, I started breaking them up into different collections and styles for easier browsing. As it stands today (being inspired mostly to create artworks based on my own likes and hobbies) I can personally identify with every single one of those collections. Bookworm, Pinup, Lazy, Unicorn, Stargazer, Fangirl…the whole lot.

All of the things. All of the time.

Now, if we live by “the rules” I mentioned earlier, I shouldn't be able to do that. I’ve set my label already with my current wardrobe choices and overall demeanour – my brightly coloured hair, my knee-high glitter boots and diamante encrusted pants (hell yeah!!), my choice to be a generally smiley and positive person, my glitter obsession – I dunno. It all feels a little bit 'Unicorn Glam' to me. I'm a human Unicorn (yay!).

Based on that fact, technically, I shouldn’t even entertain the idea of popping into a New Age store and pairing up my outfit with a little bit of spiritual styling to recognise my Witchy side. How could I even be a Witch?! Unicorns are all about sparkles and rainbows and sprinkles. Witches aren't.

*gasp!* - whaaaa?!

Yep. The "rules" tell me that a real Witch is either a dark, moody, tattooed babe that shares her perfectly styled goth photos on Instagram or a completely woo woo hippy that only wears hand dyed natural fibres and vegan shoes, whilst chanting mantras to cleanse her chakras. No, I am a Unicorn kinda girl, so I couldn’t possibly wear anything Witchy; that's just not me. Keep on walking by, Danika, because it's all or nothing, right?

Some people seem to think so...yet here I am, killin' it.

If that example is a little beyond your comfort zone, let’s try this...

I can confidently say that my personal style certainly does not lean towards the 'I only wear overpriced vintage clothing and drink avocado turmeric lattes in cafes lit by Edison globes as I work on my new startup project' look - but does that make me exempt from owning and wearing my oversized hipster specs along with my sparkly pants and general disdain for coffee? Do the specs just make me some kind of try-hard or phoney? Am I really an entrepreneur if I can’t commit fully to the current hipster 'label' that seems to be perceived alongside it? 

Uhhhhh, YAH I am! They're just an accessory, people.

Repeat after me.

WHO. GIVES. A. SHIT. ABOUT. THE. RULES.

I am more than that. You are more than that…and these “rules” don’t even exist!! YOU are imposing them on yourself! YES, YOU!! If you love something, and it resonates with you and makes you feel good – then it IS you and you are allowed to wear whatever you freakin’ well want! Who is telling you otherwise?

Labels are simply words that we add meaning to. They do not solely define you or the way you look; but you can CHOOSE to adhere to them if you so wish. To keep yourself small. To limit yourself.

But remember; that means you can choose not to, as well. YOU DO YOU.