Why Style is Not Superficial

There’s a voice that lives inside too many of us—it’s the one that whispers,

“Is this too much?”

Too shiny? Too styled? Too intentional? Too seen?

In a moment of doubt, I once typed the following into ChatGPT, “Am I shallow?” HOW CRINGEY.

I hit enter and waited a couple seconds for a response…

What unfolded was a deep reflection on how we confuse appearance with appearance-obsession, and how caring about how you show up is NOT the same as living for external approval.

Here’s what I’ve learned:

Dressing up is not about impressing the world—it’s about aligning with yourself.

It’s about claiming your space. Your vibe. Your vision. Clothes are how we curate our presence. When we dress with intention, we affirm our aliveness.

Style is art. And art is not frivolous.

Your sense of style, your art, is the language of form and feeling. It holds tension, story, rebellion, memory. A sequined dress can be a protest. A carefully chosen thrifted jacket can be an altar to your evolution.

Loving beauty is not shallow. It can be a soulful endeavour.

Beauty wakes us up. It calls us to attention. When we gravitate toward aesthetic pleasure, we’re honouring something ancient in us—the longing to create, to feel, to be moved.

So if you love lipstick and lace? A bold shoulder? Or bold statements? Go on and love it good. That does NOT make you hollow. It means you’re alive to the world around you.

Your desires are not dangerous. They’re truthful. They are part of your path.

And yes—there might be people who misunderstand you. Who think you’re trying too hard. Who mistake your sparkle for superficiality. So what? Let ‘em misunderstand. Let ‘em judge. Let ‘em be mistaken.

Show up anyway. In the outfit that makes you feel like yourself. In the earrings that shimmer when you speak. In the shoes that “click click click” when you walk as if to remind you that you’re going places!

Dressing up is devotion. Honing a sense of style affirms your presence. You are so powerful, and you deserve to be seen.

Sending BIG sparkly vibes,

Dianne