How a Video Game Helped Me Discover My Love of Fashion

Some girls seem to enter the world with an inborn love of fashion. Others, like me, take a bit longer to discover their passion for style.

I was never the girl who spent hours putting together the perfect outfit, or the girl who raided my mother or grandmother’s closet for vintage finds. Instead, I was the girl who loved video games. Funny enough, however, that’s exactly what led me to the fashion world.

Today, I’m going to share the unconventional way that I fell in love with fashion. And how it changed everything for me.

I first discovered my love of fashion at the (comparably) late age of 14, through a video game entitled “Style Savvy: Trendsetters.” Yes, the same game you see above. The brightly colored packaging and sweetly-smiling character on the cover sold me instantly.

The game’s plot? To make an entire town fashionable! Yes!

In my quest to master Style Savvy, I quickly developed a taste for different aesthetics for both men and women. As the game progressed, the outfits soon were left to my small knowledge of the brands within the game, and the basics of color-coordinating.

When I did beat the game, I found myself obsessed with fashion… in real life. 

With no further outfits to create on “Style Savvy,” I took my obsession to the real world. I began digging through my closet for statement pieces, neutral tees, anything that would help me plan outfits from my collection of clothes. Accessories suddenly interested me. Colors, and their endless combinations, took on new meaning. I started playing with shapes and proportions. I was in love.

Today, I’m writing for a fashion blog, taking my love of fashion to the next level. And I want to encourage all of you — even if you weren’t born with a passion for style — to give it a try if it interests you. Whether you gain your skills from a video game, or watching YouTube try-on hauls, or working at a retail shop, anyone can fall in love with the world of fashion!

Top 5 things I learned while playing “Style Savvy: Trendsetters”

I’ve learned a lot more about fashion since I first began playing “Style Savvy: Trendsetters.” However, the game taught me my first few valuable fashion lessons. They are as follows:

1. Don’t be afraid to mix it up!

When it comes to fashion, what truly makes a piece one’s own is how it’s styled — so mess with that embroidered skirt, throw on a patterned top you love, and dress the outfit up with a pair of heels and a statement earring; anything goes, as long as you’re comfortable.

2. Makeup can truly put a look together.

As most of us know, our makeup (or lack thereof!) can really add to a look, making it seem more put together or more casual than usual. Applying makeup can add to an outfit — and your confidence — while skipping it can be perfect for a dressed-down feel. Just remember that cosmetics are a part of the look, and strategize accordingly.

3. Pick a trend that interests you… and mess with it!

Before I got into fashion, I thought following the latest trends was a bit hive-minded and clichéd. However, now I understand that trends can be fun to try, and a great way to step outside your comfort zone! You shouldn’t discount them entirely. In fact, that trend you tried on a whim might end up integrated into your wardrobe for years to come.

4. Fashion is more than just putting together a cute outfit.

I had a small interest in fashion before playing this game, however I can definitely say that my interest in the fashion industry and what they do has grown. Fashion is much more complex than most people think. Designers weave fabrics into works of art, comment on social issues, make statements about where the world is headed, channel past trends… and just run with it—how cool is that?

5. Fashion belongs to no one, and everyone.

Though there’s a fashion industry, I don’t believe fashion necessarily has to come from anyone “elite”—for example, celebrities. Trends, outfit ideas, styles… they come from cultures, areas in which we live, and can erupt at just about any time at all. That, in itself, is what makes fashion worth my time — and yours.

To end with a quote that says it all: 

“Style is a way to say who you are without having to speak”– Rachel Zoe

How did you first get into fashion?

Are there any other late-to-the-game fashion girls reading CF? How did you first discover your love of style? (Did any of you play Style Savvy?) Tell me in the comments!