Words by Penny Ramos // Photo by Stephen Tafra
I once wore a brooch featuring a taxidermy mouse to a job interview. His name was Clive. Tiny top hat. Little monocle. It was during what I now call my “gently-departed mouse art renaissance era”. I had taken up beginner taxidermy—ethically, of course; I only worked with mice who had already moved on to the great cheese wheel in the sky.
The interviewer didn’t flinch. Just asked, “Is that… real?” I nodded solemnly. I did not get the job. But I did get a fantastic story and a reputation for being “the girl who brought Victorian plague energy to marketing.”
And honestly? That’s the magic of personal style. It says things you’re too afraid (or too polite) to say out loud. It can whisper, “Yes, I am a functioning adult,” or scream, “My emotional support animal is ornamental and lightly shellacked.”
Here are a few things that helped me find my personal style—unhinged or otherwise.
Hair, or How I Communicate Mood Without Speaking
At one point, I shaved the sides of my head and left the top long and unpredictable. The result? I looked like a disheveled emu going through something personal. And honestly, it felt right. People asked if it was a breakup cut. I said no—it was more of a breakthrough cut, though the breakthrough was mostly me realizing I have a weirdly shaped scalp.
Over the years, I’ve experimented: fiery reds, awkward fringes, a regrettable moment involving kitchen scissors and misguided confidence. Hair is like emotional weather—it changes often, can’t be trusted, and occasionally causes others to cross the street.
Still, it’s one of the most immediate, wordless ways I tell the world what kind of day I’m having. Sometimes polished. Sometimes chaos with bangs.
Getting Dressed Like a Scavenger Poet
My fashion sense lives somewhere between “eccentric professor” and “found this in a haunted trunk.” I love vintage jackets that smell like forgotten memoirs. Shoes that look like they’ve been on an adventure. Outfits that imply I might cast spells at brunch.
Some days I go full minimalist. Other days I layer patterns like a raccoon decorating a Christmas tree. The point is: if you look like a mood board and a fever dream had a child, you’re doing it right.
Jewelry That Could Start a Conversation or a Mild Panic
Let’s return to jewelry, which I now treat as a personal archive of vibes. I once wore fourteen mismatched rings to a family gathering. My aunt asked if I was engaged to a cult. I said yes, but only seasonally. I love a good haunted ring.
Lately, I’ve been embracing pieces that feel like quiet statements—or loud whispers. A dainty gold necklace from the Kendra Scott Jewelry is my current go-to when I want to seem like I have my life together (even if I just spilled soup on myself again). Their pieces manage to be both elegant and expressive, like “I pay my taxes and own a tarot deck.”
Jewelry doesn’t have to shout. But it can definitely wink.
Other Personal Choices That Announce “I’m Me”
- Tattoos: Three and counting. All chosen during moments of clarity (or espresso-induced boldness).
- My Home: A loving mess of thrifted art, unread books, and a decorative bowl that holds nothing but old hotel keycards.
- Hobbies: Crocheting small, misshapen animals. Naming them. Giving them jobs.
- Social Media: A mixture of philosophical oversharing and blurry moon photos. And at least one reel of me dancing in a cape.
Individuality Hides in the Small Stuff
You don’t need to wear a mouse brooch to express yourself (but if you do, name it something dignified). Sometimes it’s the mug you reach for every morning. Or the playlist you made called “Melancholy but Also a Banger.” Maybe it’s how you sign your emails with “Warmly,” even when you’re seething.
Every little choice—intentional or accidental—paints the portrait of who you are. It doesn’t have to be curated. Just true.
Closing Thoughts From a Former Mouse-Wearer
There’s a strange, wonderful freedom in showing up as your whole self—messy, bold, thoughtful, sparkly. Whether that means loud jewelry, odd hobbies, or a closet full of clothes that make strangers say “wow” or “huh,” it all matters.
So wear the necklace. Say the weird thing. Buy the glitter boots. Express your weird, lovely, particular self in a way that feels like a wink to the universe.
