My father and I had a conversation today about all my goodwill clothes in the garage. He told me he couldn't believe how many I have had. But since 6th grade, I haven't grown, haven't changed styles. So for about 7 years now I've just been adding to clothes.

My least favorite thing is looking back at old pictures and realizing I have no clue where the shirt went, or the pants. They vanish to belong to a friend of mine, or to be left in a hotel. There are plenty of shirts that were my favorite that I have misplaced, or even forgotten I gave away. But I love the feeling of looking through the clothes I've stuffed into a bag for goodwill a year later and realizing that I love something. I also love the trade at lightly used clothing stores. To give one shirt away as receiving another. How could you not love that.

For the past year now I have wanted to write my own blog, but I could never think of what to write. Finally I decided I need to jump in. My name is Tavia, I'm 18, and I've been in love with fashion since I was 4.

It all began with the little black dress in Breakfast at Tiffany's. My grandmother handed me the VHS of this movie and since then there hasn't been a day I didn't wish I could become a fashion designer.

I went to a private school and stood out for my strange taste in clothes and hair color choices. After a trip to Italy I came back with pink and blue in my hair.

In 8th grade we were able to choose an independent project. Since 4th I had been planning to sew my own dress for graduation. I wrote papers on the growth of fashion since the 30's and studied with a mentor. In the end I had 3 dresses created. One being a mid-length blown dress for graduation. I still love the dress and hope for an occasion to be able to wear it.

There was one point in the year were I learned if you see your creation you must jump on the fabric you need. I created a fitted neon nylon dress with tulle at the bottom. Where I saw the perfect fabric I was talked out by my mother and my mentor. "Stretchy nylon is impossible to sew." as I was told. A week later I decided if this was my project I'd need to learn myself and not be told. So we went back to the fabric store and the perfect fabric I had found wasn't sold anymore. I had to settle. The dress is still a head turner, but I still regret not jumping on the fabric.

Now I'm 18, sitting at home. I graduated from high school this year a semester early. I'm still trying to decide what I want to do for the rest of my life. I'm going to beauty school in the fall so I can have a steady job. Becoming a Fashion Designer seems so difficult nowadays. But I will always be drawing in my sketchbooks, and awing at beautiful clothing. Hopefully one day dreams will become my reality.