NinjaSovereign.com

Round black glasses, green jacket, black skirt, and combat boots! If you spent part of your high school education in the 90s, no doubt you met Daria Morgendorffer.

Daria was one of many intelligent, cynical, and witty women of the 90s that had a big influence on my adolescent life. Animated or not, she was definitely a memorable voice of my generation. It was Daria that showed me and probably many other rather shy and awkward late-bloomers, that it’s okay to have standards and principles.

Through her own failures as well, she showed us that our own fears of losing an identity, shouldn’t stop us from futher developing socially, intellectually, or emotionally.

Since I’ve been watching Daria episodes while working, I got to thinking that doing an updated but inspired Daria look would be fun.

I also posted this look on my lookbook, so if you like it please feel free to hype it. Thanks.

Back in 1997 when Daria first aired, I used to see myself as Daria. Looking back, I am totally more of a Jane Lane type.  Though I didn’t fit in, I also wasn’t stubbornly content on staying in my world and judging people who didn’t quite live up to my personal standards. This is much more characteristic of Jane than Daria.

Before people start gathering their pitch forks, lets agree on one thing:

Daria JUDGED people who did not live up to her standards.

And let’s be honest, as teenagers, we all judged people. People were either too cool, or not cool enough. There was a constant search to be the right amount of “cool” without trying.

I was a complete geek growing up. Super UN-cool.
Shyness, insecurity, and self-doubt was part of my daily 16-year old routine.  Adding to cliche, my younger brother was a popular football player. Nobody ever remembered my name, except that I was “Mike’s other sister”. I’m one of THREE sisters.

Now that I’m 30, I’m still very much that same geeky girl. Perhaps I’m less of a social outcast, but my interests haven’t changed, they’ve only gone deeper into the dorky side while expanding into self-love.

I still feel insecure, awkward, and uncool. The biggest difference is that I don’t let it stop me from moving forward, engaging people, and putting myself out there. That’s something I’ve learned from Daria.

Maybe some people might have missed that lesson between the witticisms and sarcasm.

Though Jane and Daria consistently take witty jabs at their cluessless and less intelligent peers, both girls learn lessons in when to stick to their ideals, and when to play ball with the popular crowd.

That’s what I respect most about Daria, that she can see the error in her ways and grows up in the process.

I’d like to think that Daria would have embraced her femininity and sexuality as she grew older. . The green, the orange, and the boots are still there. They are just more up to date, and much more flattering than her boxy outfit from high school.

I had a lot of issues with body image when I was in highschool, even through part of college! I didn’t learn to do my hair and makeup until later in life, and so I’d like to think this is an ode to grown up Daria. A woman, who isn’t afraid of her body.

I think Daria would have blossomed into someone who wasn’t afraid of being seen as wanting to dress up or look nice.  And I’d like to think she could realize that looking pretty wouldn’t mean she’d have to sacrifice who she was.

So to any girls out there who might have felt like I did or Daria did back in high school, it won’t last forever and you’re not alone. We’re all shy and unsure, but you can’t let it hold you back.

And finally, the makeup breakdown. Everything is Sugarpill unless the brand is mentioned:

Well hope you guys enjoyed my ode to Daria Morgendorffer. If you enjoyed the series or have any thoughts on the show, I’d love to hear it too!