fashion theory, costume design, and the expression of self

I spent some time today learning about fashion theory. Yes, there is a surprising amount of theory, debate and analysis that goes into why people choose to wear what they do. I guess a lot of the analysis is with the intent of selling more product, but much of it also focusses on psychology - the expression of self, the evolution of identity, and the need to belong.

One fashion theorist I discovered on YouTube talked about her dissatisfaction with fashion before she arrived at a point in her life where she had the freedom (and funds) to interrogate her personal style. She talked of how transformative that had been for her. She no longer chased trends, but instead sought out designers and pieces that aligned with her personal story and allowed her to dress with intent. She had determined the message she wished to communicate and the type of person she wished to communicate to. She raised a compelling analogy between personal style and costume design. Costume designers learn for years about how to imagine a character, visualise their hopes, dreams, fears, strengths, weaknesses, and how this might relate to their appearance. They learn to create clothes for these characters that marry all of these traits into a cohesive style that strengthens the story that is being told. Take this methodology and now imagine a character that represents the kind of person you want to be, and imagine the wardrobe that you would curate for that character.

Storytelling is such an essential component of fashion. Even the most basic of white singlets tells a different story depending on who is wearing it, how it is styled, or what it is paired with. Fashion has the power to reflect our own narratives and tell our stories to the people we want to reach. I invite you now to think about tomorrow - what story will you tell to the world?

meg.