Many people underestimate the power of clothing. Clothes exist for many purposes, whether they be for comfort, utility, or professionalism, but I think that the most well-understood element about them is their visual appeal to each person.
How much you like a piece of clothing is, like most things, subjective.
Some people favor shirts with whimsical catchphrases from their favorite Disney movie, others have a preference for certain materials or designs, such as plaid, florals, or leather/pleather, and yet others still find comfort in the avant-garde and the unconventional.
Clothes (or the lack thereof) are even some of the most common ways to express political opinions. Ultimately, clothes are a means of self-expression, and that function materializes in different ways for different people.
For much of my life, clothes were a way to assert my desire to belong.
When I was younger, I sought security in the clothes I wore. I took a nosedive into my hobbies and the bands I liked, and for a period of time, would only wear those to school.
Even though I never said it out loud, I think that some voice in my subconscious thought that wearing the things I liked on my sleeve (pun intended) was a giant blaring, neon light that loudly announced, "I like this thing! If you also like this thing, talk to me about it, and let's be friends!"
It worked, and I did meet several of my good friends that way, in conversations that started over the shirt I was wearing.
My taste evolved when I went to college, and I became more daring in choosing the things I decided to wear. In high school, I would put on a shirt and call it a day, but during my freshman year, I decided to take things further by wearing more feminine clothes and planning outfits.
I became heavily inspired by the loud, interesting fashions of the drag scene and by the elaborate makeup that artists would post on social media. While I was never as "out there" as any of them, putting on something that was unconventional, like purple lipstick, made me feel daring and got me excited. I was becoming a bolder, more lively person.
There is an overused cliché about how your clothes can be your armor, and while I get the sentiment behind the phrase, it is not totally accurate.
The real power of the garments you place in your body lies in the transformation.
I don't feel like a more defensive, protected version of myself. Rather, I feel a weird feeling of liberation. The sensation that I look good translates into feeling good, and it makes me feel powerful and that I can seize the world (essentially, I feel like Sailor Moon).
It was during this period that I came to realize that my desire to "dress well" had become more personal.
In the past, I wore shirts with the intention of getting to know others, now, the clothes I wear are for me. I realized that when I wake up in the morning, I motivate myself to make the most of my day by presenting myself in a way that makes me stand out from everyone else.
Putting my best face forward, even when I don't feel on top of my game or in control, makes me feel whole and that I can get the tasks I need to do accomplished. My relationship with fashion is no longer centered on others' perceptions, the garments I place on my body are a relationship I have with myself.
For me, clothes have become a powerful agent in helping me get through every day.
Challenging myself to wear interesting outfits and try new things has, in itself, become a form of motivation for me to get out of bed in the morning. Not everyone finds fashion as invigorating as I do, and that's OK. The important thing is that turning details you enjoy into small (but important) victories can be a great asset.
Finding the power in the little things is not only uplifting. If you find something that inspires you in some small way as I did, maybe you could feel like Sailor Moon, too.
