Own Clothes Day: What I Wore

The own clothes day. Or, as I prefer to call it: the sudden-realisation-I-have-nothing-to-wear day. Occurring approximately 4 or 5 times every academic year, the 'own clothes day' is, in theory, every fashionista's best friend- a chance to show off the season's latest trends, to show off those new boots, to find the skinniest jeans in your wardrobe and parade around the school knowing that your waist will be squeezed tighter than anyone else's in the whole school. However, sadly there is a thin line between the own clothes day being your best friend and your worst enemy, and it should be every style-conscious student's priority to avoid crossing this line at all costs.
One wrong move on own clothes day, and your image can be tainted- for a lot longer than a good outfit will enhance your image as well. I can painfully recall many an embarrassingly awful outfit on own clothes days past. I must admit, I wasn't really into fashion when I was 13, hence I thought nothing of wearing a navy tracksuit with a grey striped jumper and white trainers- on each and every own clothes day that year! (sadly that is completely true- the memory still haunts me!) Since then I have done much to rebuild my reputation, and, if nothing else, my sartorially disastrous youth has at least taught me to be aware that own clothes day is not an occasion to be taken lightly.
Unfortunately, whenever it is the evening before own clothes day, and I peer hopefully into the depths of my wardrobe, the washing machine monster comes along and swallows up all the clothes I really want to show off. Then, inconveniently, all my back-up, plan B, fail-safe essentials (black skinnies, chunky cardigans, v-neck tees etc) have either disappeared off the face of the earth, or have some sort of hole or tear in them, which I belatedly realise I was supposed to sew up weeks ago. Then I am forced to venture into the wilder realms of my closet- the place where home-made experiments lay strewn about, half finished, over the wardrobe floor, and where daringly risque patterns hide at the back of draws. Such was precisely the case on this own clothes day. This is what I went for:
   Let me take you through my clothing choices. I'll start from the top down- so first, I went for a classic band tee. I bought this Guns 'N Roses tee about 3 or 4 years ago when I was going through something of a rock phase. I love the contrast of the colours on the black, and I've always had a thing for cross shapes and skulls, so the combination of the two in an almost religious fashion was just irresistible. I cut off the sleeves, and lowered the neck line, partly because it was too tight, partly because low cut tops are very on trend (or at least were when it was a little warmer!) and partly so that I could show off my two tone necklace (also made of skulls- wooden ones).
 As tempting as it was to compound the crucifix look by wearing a necklace with a cross on it, I went for something a little more exciting in the form of this spiky chain necklace with some sort of shapes on it (still not sure exactly what they are). Whatever it is, I think it's really jazzy, and a bargain at £6.
 Working our way further down, we come to the jeans I chose to wear. These are a little personal innovation of mine. Originally cheapo £10 skinny jeans from Primark, I first ripped these jeans, then decided they weren't interesting enough, so I bunches them up with elastic bands and stuck them in a tub of bleach for a week. Annoyingly, they refused to go white, but the yellow is a little different to most bleachers I suppose, and I love the random swirls and patches the bleaching process creates.
 I played it safe with the footwear by picking out a sensible pair of docs. I had been waiting for an opportunity to wear my beloved teal brothel creepers, but decided against this move when I saw the rain clouds gathering before I had even left my house. Still, I think the dark green goes nicely with the darkness of the top, and contrasts sublimely with the yellow of the bleachers.
 And here's a picture from behind, because my bum is obviously exactly what you want to see!
There, then. I hope you like what I wore this own clothes day, and I hope I have convinced you that own clothes day is an opportunity for creative expression which is not to be missed.