Letter #49: The Importance of Clothing

Musings on self-expression

Dear reader,

I absolutely love clothes. I love shopping for clothes. I love building outfits. I love the act of putting pieces together to create something that makes me feel like myself and represents me. I love the power that clothes have to help me present myself to the world in a way that I choose.

Why do we care so much if people like our outfits? I think it boils down to a compliment about an outfit feeling like an affirmation of our choices. I personally view clothing as a means of self-expression.

You take the time to curate an outfit you like, that you feel good in, and that feels like you. Someone complimenting that outfit feels like, at least to me, confirmation of a job well done. Especially if it’s a compliment on an outfit that feels especially “me,” it feels a bit like an affirmation of me and how I present myself.

My personal style has gone through multiple iterations. Currently, I like a lot of styles. (I would probably call my style “eclectic.”)

I wear weird stuff and put weird stuff together, a hodgepodge of vintage and thrifted pieces, fast fashion that I just don’t use in a fast fashion way (me, ever following seasonal trends? no way!), old clothes I’ve had since literally as early as 7th grade. I watch a lot of cosplayers, costume historians, people who wear and make fantasy and reproduction vintage pieces, and generally people with alternative styles.

One of the things I love most about those kinds of content creators is that they’re out there wearing things they love and that feel like them, regardless of societal norms. I love that they encourage others out there to wear what feels most “them.”

I think that point has been a contributing factor to what I wear now.

I’ve always liked clothes and shopping. I’ve always wanted to look put-together. But now, I feel like I’ve gained a better sense of self-confidence in my outfits and in wearing odd combinations, regardless of what others might say. It’s nice to be complimented on my outfits, but it’s just that: nice. There’s still a bit of that sense of affirmation, but my wardrobe is one place in my life that I do feel pretty confident about that it feels right for me in this stage of my life. I wear what feels like me, so I feel a little more like me when I wear my “me” outfits.

I’m a dork. My outfits should say so!

Thanks for reading,

Olivia