Personal style is subjective. You should buy and wear what you like without worrying about others’ opinions. Period. That said, I’m not immune to the thrill of someone complimenting my outfit; I like to think it has less to do with the external validation and more to do with feeling seen. I’m intentional about what I add into my wardrobe—each piece needs to speak to my personality, my mood, and my vibe—so when someone recognizes that, it feels good.

I’m also someone who tracks their outfits daily (shout-out to Indyx), so it’s easy for me to look back on a day and remember what I was wearing, where I was wearing it, and if I was complimented that day. I try to be diverse with my pieces—a tiny NYC apartment is not conducive to multiples of the same item—but I have noticed that some of my most praised pieces are from Free People, which is conveniently my favorite retailer.