Life is a game and every single one of us are the main characters in our own reality. We are constantly customizing and upgrading our characters, forming a more complex identity. One of the easiest ways we can customize ourselves is through our fashion choices. Our personal style choices are a form of nonverbal communication that represent our identities.
Our identities are immensely complex and are always developing as we go through life. Fashion has proven to be the medium that can successfully portray the layers of complexity that come with individual identity. Whether it be cultural or ethnic identity, gender identity or even secondary identifiers, like personal interests, they can all be put on display through our fashion choices.
Secondary identifiers are the most commonly displayed through clothing, most people do it without thinking. Wearing t-shirts from your favorite artists or shows are just a few simple examples. It doesn’t even have to be as direct as graphic t-shirts, either. Your style of clothing can express subgenres you may be into. For example, dressing in accordance to certain aesthetics like punk, y2k, streetwear, avant-garde and so on displays your interests so you can express your current favorite things publicly.
Cultural and ethnic identity take a little more intention to be expressed through fashion. Wearing clothing that is specific to your culture demonstrates pride and comfort in ethnic identity. Having a diverse and accepting surrounding makes cultural expression much easier. The modernization of traditional cultural clothing has also become increasingly popular. However, this is a hit or miss, as it can easily become cultural appropriation instead of cultural appreciation. When done properly, cultural clothing can be a successful medium for portraying heritage and ethnic identity.
Gender identity is subconsciously a part of everyone’s fashion choices. Whether it’s intentional or not, gender identity plays a large role in how we choose to dress every day. For a majority of fashion history, clothing was targeted towards specific sexes with no ambiguity. Clothing would cater to cisgendered men and women with an unspoken rule of no mixing and matching. Fashion has steadily evolved to the point where clothing and gender identity are now more freely ambiguous and fluid. Clothing allows people, regardless of gender identity, to dress comfortably. Transgender people are now given the opportunity to dress in accordance to their gender identity, allowing them to establish comfort and confidence through clothing. Androgyny is now possible through clothing with no unspoken gender rules.
Fashion is a part of everyone’s lives. Having the ability to express different aspects of your identity is possible because of fashion. Clothing builds comfort and confidence, everyone should have the opportunity to openly present themselves as they choose. Fashion is freedom so take that opportunity one fabric at a time.
