From age 6 to age 11, before trends had entered my mind, before I was aware of what was cool or uncool, in style or out of style, I wore outrageous things: psychedelic print shorts with a neon tank top, long striped rainbow socks and a white faux fur vest, to share a glimpse.

One day on a hike in the woods with my family, I even wore a strapless tank top, bell-bottom jeans and a skinny but long shimmery scarf… On a hike…

Now, far from the days of clueless bliss, we are constantly bombarded with opinions on what is cool, especially in the world of social media, where trends fly at the speed of light.

We can run around mindlessly clicking the “buy” button on the next hot thing, or we can stay grounded with the clothes we do have and think outside the box. It’s more sustainable too.

Contrary to popular belief, the most sustainable piece of clothing is not the T-shirt made with organic cotton and stacked on the shelves at retail stores. It is not even the recycled wool sweater from a sustainable brand. Frankly, it is the old flannel you’ve had in your closet for years or those pair of jeans that don’t seem to want to quit.

Every day, our feeds are flooded with new aesthetics and styles that “need” to be adhered to. “Cherry red is the color of the season, don’t you know?” The aesthetic is no longer “clean girl,” consisting of ballet flats, slick-back buns and “no-makeup makeup,” stylish and understated, but rather the pendulum has swung back, pushing a trend called “mob wife.”

“Mob wife” encompasses a look of excess with giant fur coats, flashy jewelry and animal print.

It is impossible to keep up with this cycle, so why try?

Not only is it impossible to keep up, it is in no way fulfilling to do so.

Gianni Versace, Italian fashion designer and founder of luxury fashion house Versace, once said, “Do not be into trends. Don’t make fashion own you, but you decide what you are, what you want to express by the way you dress and the way to live.”

Versace was founded on this very idea, focusing on being unapologetically bold and allowing personality to shine through the mess that is fashion.

If you do feel a push to shake things up and try a new look, I encourage people to start at the thrift store. In Goshen, some second hand spots include The Depot, Goodwill on Lincolnway East, 201Thrift and ReFind Curated Consignment in Downtown and JRM Store in Linway Plaza.

It is incredibly thrilling to find a new piece at the thrift store and is much more conducive for creativity and experimentation than a retail store or even online shopping. I also suggest going with friends to find fun things for each other.

Dian Von Furstenberg, a Belgian fashion designer, said that “style is something each of us already has, all we have to do is find it.”

This may seem like an intimidating idea, but it is much easier than you might think to pin down your signature style.

It all starts asking the right questions: “What do I feel great in?” and “What pieces in my wardrobe truly feel like me?”

Tips for finding your personal style:

Take inventory of the clothes you have.

Experiment with color, prints or accessories.

Invest in timeless pieces that will go with anything.

Create a mood board with outfit ideas that inspire you.

Don’t be afraid to try new things.

Sadie Brenneman, a junior journalism major from Goshen, Indiana, is digital editor of The Record. “For the Record” is a weekly editorial.