Style is our first peek at personality

On the bus on my way home from kindergarten one day, my friend and I were playing “house.” So,… On the bus on my way home from kindergarten one day, my friend and I were playing “house.” So, she tells me that I can be the baby of the family because I have a dog on my shirt. She thought that only babies wore shirts with dogs on them. Who the hell does this chick think she is? Hello? Do I look like a baby? Does she think I act like a baby, too?

I’m 5 years old. I am obviously the furthest thing from a baby, I thought. Needless to say, this was a traumatic moment in my life, and I have not worn a shirt displaying a picture of a dog since.

Ah, behold the power of clothes. Maybe this was the first time I noticed that fashion really is a part of your identity and can change the way others view you – a lesson I did not soon forget. Throughout my life, I have used clothing to project images of how I would like to be seen and perhaps the person I want to be. Whether or not it worked is a different story.

In fifth grade I wanted to be a Spice Girl. I wore three-inch platform sneakers and snuck on some glitter eye shadow when I thought my mom wouldn’t notice. I swear to you, if you didn’t know any better you’d think Ginger Spice and I were twins.

Then when I was in eighth grade I had a tank top proudly displaying the word “player” airbrushed on it that I liked to wear with a lot of thick silver chains while listening to Ja Rule. I was obviously pretty gangster and had a ton of street cred in my mostly white, suburban, middle class neighborhood.

After that I moved into my punk phase just as I was getting into snowboarding because, obviously, to be a snowboarder you have to look like one and listen to the correct kind of music. Clearly with my straight A’s and perfect attendance record, I knew a whole lot about stickin’ it to the man. And, really, no one would guess anything different – I was wearing a studded belt, pink and black Vans sneakers and lots of gummy bracelets on my arms. Yeah. Right.

Well, now I think I am done with all of my phases. And while there is nothing wrong with dressing in any of the aforementioned styles, I have simply found a style that fits my personality a little better and no longer live in fear of being called a poseur. I’ve learned I don’t need to look like a snowboarder at all times to actually be one, and I can listen to Flo Rida without wearing Apple Bottom Jeans and the boots with the fur. And I’ve learned that no matter what you’re wearing, everyone will eventually still see your personality. But the fact is, clothes really do convey certain messages to others.

Because whether you want to believe it or not, we all probably make a lot of judgments based on appearances.

Just think about it. In high school, how did you know who the rich kids, popular kids, emo kids, preps, jocks, skaters, Goths, punks and nerds were? Clothes, probably. And although all of theses stereotypes many not provide insight into someone’s true personality they certainly make it easy to identify how someone wants or doesn’t want you to think of him.

Why else would clothing companies spend so much time and money to position their brand? Take, for example, the mass retail chain Abercrombie ‘ Fitch. They have worked really hard to build a very distinct brand, and it’s clear that people who buy head-to-toe looks from the store do so not just because they like the clothes but because it projects a certain image and lifestyle. And although I wear a few Abercrombie pieces myself, I know there are other people who would not step foot in an A’F for fear of looking like an “aberzombie.”

And even if you say “Oh, I just throw on whatever’s closest to me when I wake up,” you’re still using your clothes to make a statement, even if that statement is just “I don’t care about fashion at all.”

Plus, if you really think clothes don’t matter then explain to me why you would probably take extra care to look polished for an interview. Or dress up for a first date. Clothes are powerful. Wear an impeccably tailored suit and everyone thinks you’re legit. Have your cleavage peeking out on the Senate floor and MSNBC feels the need to devote 23 minutes and 42 seconds to covering it as news. Seriously.

So yes, I know most people think the fashion industry is a frivolous and unnecessary one. But in our image and beauty-crazed society, you just can’t deny the fact that a lot of connotation is sewn into our clothes these days. Your outfit could make or break some important moments. Looking fabulous in some tight new jeans can sometimes be the best revenge on an ex, or the fastest way to make another girl jealous. And to paraphrase a truly inspiring greeting card I once received – “The right shoes can change your life.”

Just ask Cinderella.