The art of connecting to ourselves can be enhanced by the clothes that we wear. If we are wearing clothes that we don’t feel truly reflect ourselves, it shows. If we are wearing clothes that we love, that we feel comfortable in – our confidence shines through.
These days fashion has for me become more an exploration of who I am and what I stand for, than following trends and keeping up with my friends. To my partner’s despair I am a haunter of charity shops (he thinks they smell :-D), am thrilled to receive hand me downs from my neighbour’s 70 plus year old mother, and will happily pick up a discarded beanie found out for a walk, giving it a wash and a new home.
Gradually over the years I have bought less and less that is new… now …
I stand for no waste. I stand for sustainability. I stand for make, do, mend.
I have always loved fashion. As a little girl I would sit on the floor of the laundry pouring over the old fashion magazines left behind by my mother. I would go into my father’s wardrobe and try on her old ball gowns – once wearing one to a talent show when I was ten, complete with oranges stuck down my bodice! The creations of houses such as Chanel, Givenchy and Schiaparelli inspired me to draw my own designs and a brief dream to become a fashion designer myself. I taught myself to sew – badly – and impatiently waited to start high school where I would be taught techniques properly.
My brief visits to my mother’s house were spent picking my way through her needlework projects and carelessly discarded tools, to touch and explore the fabrics she hoarded… imagining what I would make with them. My debutante dress was designed by myself, as were evening gowns I wore to balls. My second upcycling project was simply ripping off horrid leg of mutton sleeves on a bridesmaid’s dress I had worn to my sister’s wedding, to recreate an elegant sleeveless ballgown of embroidered Thai silk that I wore with long black gloves. My first was completely deconstructing a fifties cocktail dress to reconstruct using a stapler (seams out), and completing the look with an over the top black tulle headpiece that my conservative country audience did not know how to receive!
I’m now in my 50s and love the pleasure I get from finding items that scream ‘buy me!’ in my favourite charity and vintage shops. Fashion for me is about being true to myself and not following the trends. It’s about expressing what I want from the day, how I see myself, and sometimes how I want others to feel. Wear a brightly coloured outfit with a hint of fun to work tomorrow, and see how many people smile because it just makes them feel happy to see a pop of bright colour!
Fashion is far from frivolous. Fashion is another way of connecting with yourself and with others.
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