When I watched Geek Girl on Netflix, something cracked open inside me. It wasn’t just the red-haired main character, Harriet, who caught my attention; it was the way she stood out, the way she froze under pressure, the way she didn’t quite know how to defend herself. It hit me harder than I expected. Suddenly, I was 16 again, watching a play in the graduation ceremony at my high school, being mocked during a play for acting different, for thinking differently, for being different.

Watching Harriet go through those moments of humiliation in silence, unable to fight back, unable to speak up, I understood her so deeply that it brought tears to my eyes. Not because she was weak, but because she was so strong in a quiet, unfamiliar way. Because sometimes, freezing is the only way we know how to survive.

The quiet armor: fashion as expression

What Harriet and I had in common, beyond red hair and introversion, was fashion. For her, and for me, fashion wasn’t just fun. It was a lifeline. It gave us a voice when we didn’t have words. It gave us the confidence to enter spaces where we didn’t feel welcome. It allowed us to say, this is who I am, without uttering a single sentence.

Fashion was never about showing off or blending in. It was about expression. It was about identity. And for girls like Harriet and me, it became a form of quiet rebellion.

I remember going to school not with endless piles of trendy outfits, but with a small, carefully curated wardrobe. Clothes that fit me literally and emotionally. I didn’t follow every trend. I chose timeless pieces that flattered my shape and reflected how I wanted to feel. And then I played with them like puzzle pieces. I matched and rematched outfits in different ways, so even the girls in my class started asking: “How many clothes do you have?” The truth? Not that many. But I had the right clothes.

And most importantly, I had myself! dressed in a way that made me feel whole.

The emotional power of getting dressed

There’s something magical about the right outfit. It can shift your energy. It can lift you out of sadness. It can help you feel braver, more grounded, more you. For someone like Harriet, stepping into fashion felt like stepping into a superpower. She was still awkward, still unsure, but she started to shine.

I felt that too.

I was never a professional model, although I had some offers and even did a few small gigs. But I didn’t need a runway to feel seen. When I dressed in something beautiful, I stood taller. I smiled more. I walked through the world with a quiet knowing that I mattered. That I was allowed to take up space, even if I wasn’t loud or popular or easily understood.

When you don’t fit in, style helps you stand out

Growing up, I wasn’t interested in the same things as the kids around me. While others were talking about celebrities or gossiping about crushes, I was captivated by color, fabric, silhouettes, creativity. I was drawn to deeper conversations, often feeling more comfortable around older people than my peers.

I had one best friend who looked and felt like Harriet’s best friend in the show. Fiercely loyal. Kind. Our bond helped me survive. But fashion? Fashion helped me breathe.

I didn’t wear armor. I wore art. I wore design.

Clothes that last, confidence that builds

Even back then, I believed in sustainability without knowing the word. I didn’t chase fast fashion or seasonal trends. My clothes weren’t disposable. They were personal. And because I wore them in so many different ways, they stayed fresh, and they made me feel resourceful and proud.

That joy of getting dressed wasn’t superficial. It was soulful. It was my way of saying:

“I may not fit in, but I still belong.”

Today, I know this for sure:

Fashion doesn’t define you. But it can reveal you.

It can remind you that you are allowed to show up – soft, bold, quiet, loud, or unsure.

And for those of us who didn’t always know how to speak up, it can be the first language we ever learned to fluently express ourselves in.

A final thought

My message to every girl who’s ever felt different:

You don’t need to change.

You don’t need to explain.

You don’t need to follow every trend.

Find your style. Wear it like a whisper or like a shout. Use it to tell the world, "I am here."

And remember: fashion isn’t about impressing others. It’s about empowering yourself.

Just like Harriet, you don’t have to be loud to be unforgettable. You just have to be you, exactly as you are!