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By: Priscilla Olivarez
What is the first thing people notice when they see you? Is it your pearly white smile or your glowing new summer tan? Or is it the beautiful expressions you hold on your face? In some instances, yes, these traits are impressionable to some, but nothing showcases the purest form of self-expression other than the clothes you wear. In fact, it only takes three seconds to make an assumption of others and in those three seconds, the first impression is what the person is wearing. Despite all these impressions you can make, the sole impression of you to yourself is the most important. What expression do you want to portray that day? Are you ready to step in bright red shoes, catching everyone’s eyes as you breeze by or are you more inclined to choose the black pants and sweater to be comfier? Because of this, I ask, is your personal style important to you?
In a world buzzing with diverse expressions, fashion stands out as a universal language, allowing individuals to communicate their identity without uttering a word. Beyond the fabric and threads, fashion holds the transformative power of self-expression, making it an essential aspect of our lives. In other terms, fashion is a self-discovery. It’s knowing your culture and being able to portray your love for the traditions. Fashion is a time traveler, weaving the threads of culture and history into the garments we wear. Traditional attire, cultural symbols, and historical influences often find their way into contemporary fashion, creating a tapestry that connects us to our roots. Fashion is being able to roleplay others and feel the essence of being disguisable. Fashion is exploring your personality, your sights, your taste, your preferences, and it’s building a beautiful canvas that others can utterly awe at or simply discard, but fortunately, unbeknownst to others, the control is in your hands. Not many aspects of yourself can be considered global, yet fashion can hold the beauty of other countries and lands you’ve never reached and build a community miles away in areas you could never touch. Fashion is showcasing our true identity without having to communicate. And in some cases, fashion can communicate our thoughts and our feelings but the ability to do any self-expression to the world and beyond is completely in your hands. This is all due to colors, textures, and fabrics, that cultivate our creativity and simply reflect the beautiful minds in all of us.
In essence, fashion is a dynamic form of self-expression that goes beyond the mere act of getting dressed. It's a powerful tool for self-discovery, a canvas for creative expression, and a bridge connecting us to culture and history. Cultivating a sense of personal style is not a hassle; it's an acknowledgment of the impact fashion has on our identity and the way we navigate the world. So, the next time you are curating your outfit, remember you orchestrating and showcasing your inner self.
About The Author:
Priscilla Olivarez '25
Textiles & Apparel
Entrepreneurial LeadHERship Fall 2023 Student
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