Fashion as self-expression?

The clothes that we wear have a practical purpose. They keep us warm and comfortable at the very least.

The question to ask yourself

Our clothes also become a part of our identity. Whether we like it or not, what we wear gives off signals that help people to form an impression of us.

There are many ways of seeing fashion. But is it a way to reduce the gap between your inner state and your outer appearance, an expression of your personality?

Is it a visual representation of your culture or social group? Or is your dress sense little more than an adherence to cultural norms? The truth is it might be a combination of all three! When talking about fashion sense, must visit htttps://mnlpsy.com for innovative ideas.

Physical appearance is a kind of language, a subtle communication.

Clothing can’t tell people who you are deep down, but it is part of the slim profile of information that a person has about you on first meeting.

You are putting something out there, whether you are aware of it or not.

The question to ask yourself is whether you dressing for yourself or for others?

Most people want to think that their decision of what to wear is a personal choice, but is it free from outside influence, or are you putting out signals for the sake of other people, too? Probably both.

We could, as eager pioneers of self-expression, aim to break these boundaries down. We could be that brave soul that walks into work wearing our real colours.

But it’s more likely that we will break the mould only within an acceptable framework. We wear a striped tie to the office, but we still wear our suit.

We put on smart casual for a restaurant, but we change into something more suitable when we hit the clubs.

Fashion often represents a specific era

As a form of self-expression, fashion can make us feel empowered and more in touch with our inner self.

We can feel more confident if the clothes we are wearing and the way we present ourselves matches up with our personality, identify and mood.

These signals about the “self” are also sent to others, but there are elements of this expression that are more about belonging to a specific group or conforming to expectations within our culture and society.

More so than you might think.

Authors like Joanne Entwistle have explored the relationship between dress, individuality and society, and concluded that the emphasis on individuality often overshadows the fact that there are almost always implicit constraints in our environment.

There are norms for business and work, based on beliefs about how much skin should be covered or showing, as well as for events, including dress codes to follow in given situations.

Even when the constraints are blurry or less strict, social pressures still, to a greater or lesser extent, define the boundaries of what we feel comfortable wearing — for better or worse.

Fashion often represents a specific era, type of person or group of people. Take poker, a sub-culture with strong ties to fashion.

During its early years, the “old-school” players wore cowboy hats, demonstrating their connections to the Wild West days of poker’s roots.

Fashion is an expression

Nowadays, many of the players wear casual hoodies, seeing as they are young online pros. It doesn’t matter whether you wear a red cowboy hat or a neon hoodie, both fall into a category that represents a specific point in space and time.
It could be that fashion as self-expression is a myth. Fashion and dress sense is nearly always influenced by external factors, the context is one of them.

We express ourselves within the confines of the context, and we make decisions that are influenced by our culture, on practicality, on what group we belong to (or don’t belong to) and on how we want to be perceived by others.

There are also economic and social constraints that define what a person can afford to wear or what they are willing to spend.

Ultimately, fashion and the way in which you dress plays an important role when it comes to self-identity and confidence, as well as in how other people perceive you. In one respect, it is an empowering form of self-expression.

But what we choose to wear may not entirely come down to an act of individual free will — it can be influenced by external factors and social norms.

It is fair to say that fashion is an expression within a constraint and a context and recognizing this allows us to understand more about the role that it plays.

It’s not all about individuality and the “self,” it also represents history, culture and a snapshot of a society in a specific time and place. The flair that we give it within its context is our self-expression.

I know you have heard it a thousand times before, but it’s true that first impressions count, and half of the judgments people make about you are based on your appearance or how you look to them. Visual signals are powerful. They create lasting impressions that can have tremendous impacts on personal and professional career opportunities. Your personal style is your individual look, something that is exclusive to you. It tells the world who you are and how you see yourself. It is the expression of your inner self.

Your personal style can be a powerful communication tool, and like most communication tools you can maximize it to meet your aims, or you can misuse it and spend your entire life repairing your image. Your personal style is your image. You may spend your entire life building your image but it takes you only a few seconds to see it wrecked to pieces. Once destroyed, it takes a great deal of work to get it restored. You also have to put in mind that it may never be the same, even if it is restored. That is why it is crucial to lay a solid foundation for building and nurturing your won image. Your personal style is an important, if not the most important stone of this foundation.

Is personal style only about clothes?

Your personal style is not only about the clothes your wear. It includes grooming, posture, gestures, energy levels, and spirit. Do you know someone who is always happy, full of energy, and enthusiastic whenever you meet him/her, or maybe someone else who seems to carry the weight of the world on his/her shoulders? You may not think about it, but yes, the energy you exude is also part of your personal style. Your personal style is “you”, in two simple yet fascinating words.

First steps to creating your personal style

There are few questions you need to ask yourself in order to create your personal style.

How do you see yourself now?

Does the image you currently send to others is exactly what you want them to see?
What message would you like to communicate to the world, family, friends, husband, son, and daughter?
Write down few words that best describe yourself now
Do you express yourself with ease, or is there something holding you back from expressing yourself?

Is it shyness?
Is it fear?
Is it shame or ‘overwhelm”?
Write a sentence or two about what holds you back from being yourself. Think about ways to overcome it. Write down the solutions.
What are your strengths? What makes you unique?

What are your best features? Can you name them?
What do you like to enhance?
Is there anything that you would like to hide or minimize?
Write down how you can dress to draw attention to your best features.

As a Style Coach, I encourage my clients to find their own solutions, their own ways to solve their issues. This method generates lasting results because it actively involves the person in his/her own transformation. Writing down each of those questions and reflect on them is the very first step to creating a style that faithfully expresses your inner self. This is only when you feel comfortable in what you wear.

Second step to creating your personal style

Now that you reflect on the basic existential questions, you are ready to go to the next step. This step is to help you put a label on your own current way of dressing yourself. It means that you will put a name on what you feel from the inside that is actually visible on the outside. It may actually be difficult to put a label on style. Generally, I use five categories to help my clients identify their style and focus on the image they want to achieve.

Natural: This style is all about simplicity. People that fall into this category hate everything that is fussy, even when they are beautiful. Their number one priority is “comfort”. There are few world designers and brands that suit the natural man and woman, such as Country Road, J.Crew, Lacoste, Tommy Hilfiger, Eddi Bauer, Gap, Jag, Blue Illusion. Celebrities that fall into this category are Sandra Bullock, Helen Hunt, Ellen Degeneres, Julia Roberts. Whoppi Goldberg, Prince Harry, Idris Elba, ed Sheeran…

Creative: This category of people likes to have fun with their wardrobe. They are trendsetters or trend followers. They are innovative and understand street fashion. World designers that create for the creative woman and man are Marc Jacobs, Dolce & Gabbana, and Betsey Johnson. The celebrities that have a creative style personality are Solange Knowles, Tracee Ellis Ross, Kate Moss, Johnny Depp, Pharell Williams…

Classic: This is the tailored, clean look in solid colors. People that fall into this category prioritizes quality over quantity. Their wardrobe is packed with timeless and tailored pieces. Brands/designers for this category include Giorgio Armani, Calvin Klein, and Ann Taylor. Celebrities that suit a classic personality are Michelle Obama, Angelina Jolie, Jackie O., Barack Obama, Georges Clooney…

Romantic: This category is all about softness, drape color, and curls. You may feel most at home in dresses and flowy fabrics, ruffles, lace, delicate accessories, and when you are primped and primed to perfection. Your personality is soft and feminine. Your brands/designers are Anthea Crawford, Queenspark, Elie Tahari, Laundry, Philosophy, Isaac Mizrahi. Celebrities with whom you share style traits are Taylor Swift, Elle Fanning, Scott Disick, Tony Goldwyn…

Dramatic: This style is bold and theatrical. It makes a statement about someone who is not afraid to stand out, who exudes confidence, and is comfortable wearing bold colors and prints. Brands designers that create for this category are Versace, Gucci, Christian Dior. Cel;ebrities that have a dramatic style personality include Jennifer Lopez, Milla Jovovitch, Opra Winfrey, David Beckham, Chris Hemsworth….

If you have been following me on social media for a while now, then you know that I perfectly fit this category. I am so dramatic. My style cries out “DRAMA”. Even when I swing to the other categories from time to time, but it is easy for anyone who meets me once or twice to classify me as a dramatic woman.

Third and last step: practice

Now tell me, which of these five styles are yours? have you found yours? There is a possibility that you may fit into more than just one category. It is not a problem, especially if it is your first assessment of your style personality. However, I encourage my clients to focus on one or two categories. This allows people around you to identify your own way of being. Mixing too many styles can be confusing to people and thus give you a confusing image.

Your task now is to create a Pinterest account with multiple boards that contain; clothes that fit your category, shoes, handbags, jewelry, hairstyles, ad anything that is appealing to you. You can also cut magazine pieces that you like and put them in a physical file or attach them to a pinboard. Then, you will have to restrain your wardrobe to those styles that speak to you. You first need to declutter your closet and keep the styles that strictly fit your style personality and dumb those that are in between. No place for “maybes”. When the shopping time comes, keep in mind the styles you want to exhibit, the image you want to achieve, then choose your pieces and make your purchase accordingly. You are on your way to discover yourself, your deeper self, the person you truly are. How amazing is that?

I am so excited for you and I invite you to try and start the journey with me. Decide to reflect on yourself, what you want, where you are now, and where you want to be. Strive to align all things in your life to this wonderful human being you are and enjoy the transformation.

If you need help, I am here. I am professionally trained to coach you throughout the journey and be by your side to celebrate with you each little step you take. Don’t wait for a second more. Reach higher, and awake the giant sleeping in you.

You’re capable of what you can never imagine. Wake up, and fight for yourself, babe!