Although it's always risky to generalize, I'm a big believer that many of those who turn toward fashion at a young age and stick with it into their adult lives (like me) were initially drawn to it as outsiders seeking some form of escape. Escape from the occasional tedium of reality, escape from the often discriminatory rules of society, and even escape from our own expectations. When you don't find your present view that stimulating, you rely on your imagination, and as a kid who did that often, fashion felt like a ready-made playground for dreaming things up. It was easy to think of it as my own secret world, and there was something very satisfying about that idea. So clothes became the tools I used—and continue to use—to figure out exactly who I am and who I am not. Plus, I like to be around people who everyone in high school found uncool (a big portion of the fashion world). They're usually a lot more interesting.