We all have days where we feel down and susceptible to other people’s perception of who we are. We have days where everything seems to be out of control and we are riddled with anxiety. External forces seem to have a bigger effect on our moods than usual. Everything from school to relationships to life is in constant motion. I would be lying if I said that I was a perfect person who had it all together and didn’t struggle with anxiety or fear. Sometimes I feel like the world is constantly turning around me and my autonomy has been stripped away to leave me as an irrelevant speck in the world. However, one thing I noticed we do have control over is the way we decide to present ourselves, especially through fashion.
We all have items of clothing that evoke a sense of comfort and familiarity. You have that one power suit you wear to interviews to book that job you really wanted, the hoodie you wear after yet another failed situationship, or the loose pants you wear when you want to feel carefree. Clothes have the power to influence how we feel. Why not use that power every day?
I often get comments like “Girl, you are always so dressed up! Where are you going?” I’m going nowhere. I’m going to class. Maybe I’m going on a walk down Broughton or sitting at the park by myself. We all know the cliché that goes “I don’t dress for anyone but myself,” but it’s partially true. I dress for you and for me. How you perceive me, subconsciously or not, affects how we view ourselves. If I appear like I have my life together, other people will perceive it that way too. You don’t have to only feel powerful on special occasions. Life is a beautiful occasion and you should be able to feel sexy, comfortable, happy and confident everyday. I use fashion to reclaim my autonomy. I have the power to influence my own mood.
To truly explore how dressing affects my mood, I put it to the test. For the first half of the week I dressed “bad” and then made more conscientious decisions about my clothes the last half of the week. Throughout the latter part of the week, I noticed a substantial positive increase in my mood. My belief in myself that I could do what I needed to do was stronger than ever.
We might feel like everything is constantly overwhelming, and it’s hard to feel like anything in this big, ever changing world. Feeling like this is normal, but clothes can be a constant. Our personal style is something we can look to for stability, and it can ground us in times of distress.
Words by Luna Zander.
Graphic by Eve Friday.