Fashion can be a path to self-discovery. This may sound odd, but it is true. Over the last 20 years or so, many scholars have studied the relation between clothing and the individual; both on a personal and a societal level. What they have discovered was what was obvious and in plain sight, namely that our clothes, accessories and our overall styling (hair, etc.) shape not just the ways in which others perceive us, but the ways in which we see ourselves as well.
The things we wear and the way we style ourselves has a tremendous impact on our lives. Firstly, it shapes the way in which others see us, which can, of course lead to positive or negative relations, may they be personal or professional. But, more than that, the things we put on ourselves give shape to the story we tell us about ourselves. In many ways, clothes shape the thoughts we have about ourselves (they are of course not the only things that do this), which means that they shape the positions in which we hold ourselves in the world.
The power of clothes is amazing not just in terms of how they affect relations, but in self-knowledge as well. It is clear that the clothes we wear say something about ourselves. "Fashion is instant language" - in the world of Miuccia Prada herself. If you dress in a classic suit, you may be a businessman, if you wear a Chanel bag, you are most likely affluent in terms of money, if you wear a football shirt, you're in a sporty mood and so on. This is the obvious, first layer of how clothes talk about ourselves. On a deeper level, analyzing our clothes is a quick and rather deep way of understanding our aesthetic experience. In other words, why do we like the things we like? This may seem a rather complicated issue, but the beauty of clothes and accessories is that by asking yourself a few simple questions, you can dig very deep and find out a lot about yourself. For example, for many people it may be hard to explain why they choose something (from their closet or in a store); but the moment you ask yourself "why this and not the other?" everything starts to become clearer. For example, if you have to choose between a red shirt and a brown shirt and you choose the brown one, ask yourself why you prefer that one and not the red one. In this case, the answer will come out quickly. It may be something like "the red one is too flashy". This is an honest answer and can open the door to other questions, such as "why don't I want to be flashy?" This answer can be completed by another question, which makes the conversation with yourself even more personal, namely "what do you think of flashy people?" or "why don't I want to stand out in this context?" These questions will give you quite some insight into how you regard yourself, where you position yourself, etc. If your answers are honest, there are no right or wrong answers. Of course, there will come a time when you can't answer those questions anymore. In this case, you may ask a friend, maybe they can give you some insight or put it away for a while. Make decisions based on instinct and maybe in some time, the answers will come. You can even keep a diary about your journey of self-discovery. The key is to be honest when you answer the giant question of "why?" For example, when a woman says that she "wants to feel sexy"; it is very important that the answer to the question of "why do you want to feel sexy?" to be given with straightforwardness.
In many cases, people will decide that they don't like fashion, that they are not interested in it and that they simply wear what "comes next in the drawer". Surely, these people should first analyze why they have the things they have. Secondly, the answer to "why do I reject fashion" should be honest. If you think dressing up is for dumb people, that is your right. But then again, the question of "why is dressing up for dumb people?" should come immediately. Sometimes, in such contexts, people give answers of the like of "people who dress up are superficial, because they don't focus on their minds, but on their appearance" - and that is not a completely fair point, but it is understandable. In such a case, one may ask himself whether it makes sense that high art performers, such as ballet dancers or opera singers are entitled to dress in nice costumes while on stage. If the answer is yes, then the normal follow-up is to ask yourself why on stage clothes matter in order to convey emotions, personalities and ideas and in everyday life this should not be the case. Moreover, people who "don't dress up" should ask themselves how the world would look like if everyone wore for any occasion an oversized gray t-shirt and an old pair of chinos. If everyone rejected colors, patterns, tailoring, quality fabrics, designs and every other element that makes fashion what it is, how would the world look like? If the focus is only on the mind and soul, do these not have aesthetic needs? If they do have a need for pleasure, shouldn't this matter and be met with the highest approach possible? Should fashion not be a tool to inspire others? And so, the case for fashion is built, but, moreover, one can discover that there may be other reasons to his refusal for fashion than a false reasonable argument. The truth is often uncomfortable, but then again so is a dental surgery.
Given that "we are all special cases" as Albert Camus might say, each individual's journey in terms of self-discovery through clothes is different and thus you should not expect everything to work or for everything to work in a certain way. The trick is not just to learn how to discover yourself, but also how to build your own style in order to build your own presence in your life and in the lives of those who count for you.
Ultimately, in order to know the world, one needs to know himself. In this sense, any means of gaining information is something at least to be considered. Given the strong ties of clothing to individuality and group role, style and fashion can prove themselves to be great tools for those who want to learn a lot about themselves.
Fraquoh and Franchomme
Further reading:
Are you self-conscious? Peacocking and fashion Clothes, materialism and feelings Clothing as symbolsP.S. We want to hear from you! What are your thoughts on using fashion and style in order to discover yourself? What was something that surprised you which you found out through fashion? Do you think fashion can be a connector? Share your feedback, questions or thoughts in the comments below! For more articles on style, fashion tips and cultural insights, you can subscribe to Attire Club via e-mail or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram!
