Okay, my favorite fabrics might be soft and slinky but I do like to dress with an edge sometimes! Leather, stiletto heels – fashion with an edge. And now more than ever Tough Girl Chic is HOT!

From Hollywood, to the streets of London, across Europe and even south of the equator, having a definitive edge to your clothing is more than ‘in’, it’s IN.

From Erin Flaherty of the New York Times:

Your average 20- or 30-something has absolutely zero interest in dressing like Megan Fox. “If the old ideal of sexiness was the shoulder-baring voluptuousness of Scarlett Johansson, the new sexy is the European fashion editor Carine Roitfeld in a black blazer and tall vixenish boots.” It’s all about authenticity.

And sure, anyone who’s been paying attention to fashion’s new direction knows it’s not about the juvenile, candy-coated images we see in American women’s magazines, and it has everything to do with street style thanks to Scott Schuman and other blogs that allow users to pore over more accessible style icons. Call it a backlash to the picture perfect, overly styled celebrities—Who wants to aspire to their style? These people can’t even dress themselves!—or the airbrushed images that insult our intelligence, but it just isn’t cool to look too studied these days.

So for hip, stylish women, the new look is androgynous street smart with a dash of grit and sharp metal edges. The preference is a step away from the kind of matchy (and poorly masked advertorial) way models are made to look in glossy magazine photo shoots and a big leap toward how the same pretty young girls look off-duty: Ratty skinny jeans, worn, oversized t-shirts layered beneath still larger hoodies and blazers, lots of hard metal jewelry, battered motorcycle jackets and scuffed leather boots.


But clothing can only change the outer image.  Your inner Tough Girl needs an adjustment to match her chic exterior.

How To Be A Tough Girl:

Be cool and calm. Don't let other girls bug you. Act as if they are wasting your time.

You have to be independent. Maybe have a few friends like you who can back you up if needed, but in the long run, you should be able to hold your ground and stand on your own.

Make an effort to look tough. Confidence is needed, but don't be a jerk - then you'll just come off as a snot. No frills or bows, you want to come off as mature, strong, and smart.






Tough Girl Tips:

Don't walk around looking angry; this will make you appear unapproachable and unfriendly.

It’s not a good idea to keep all emotions inside, if anything, let them out in private.

Remember that confidence is important. You can walk around acting tough all day long, but if you are easily upset, your toughness will be perceived as a façade.

Choose friends wisely.

Being tough isn't about looking mean and having bulging biceps; it’s about being able to take whatever comes. Be capable and confident. A tough girl doesn't cry over a broken nail or when insulted by someone. Cultivate an inner calm that can't be unsettled by other people.

Join a martial art to get fit. It has the benefit of making you better able to defend yourself and stronger so you can carry your own boxes. Don't rely on others for things you can do yourself.


Warnings:

People may avoid you if you never let anyone in.

Don't become a bully to prove to others that you are tough. Bullies usually have deep-seated insecurity that they are hiding.

People may still try to bully you, but remember that it’s best to walk away.

Ditching school, alcohol, smoking and other drugs don't make you tough. Don't hang out with people who encourage these activities.

Don’t be a bully!! Bullying is not the same as being tough!