Composition:
red top (H&M)
brown trousers (Gap)
white cami (Old Navy)
black boots (Macy's)
sting ray necklace (gift from boyfriend)
watch (Fossil)
Usage:
Ah, back to school time. Today was the departmental orientation for new graduate students. Since I got my MA at this university, I considered myself already oriented, so I wasn't planning on attending. However, I'm co-chairing a big, annual departmental event this year, so our grad organization's president asked my co-chair and I to say something about the event. So I spoke, and I guess technically got (re)oriented too.
I have to say, I was surprised at how long it chose me to pick out an outfit. I couldn't decide what kind of look I wanted to put together. Departmental orientation isn't a formal event, and I knew many people who were speaking wouldn't get very dressed up. And, after all, I would only be talking for about 2 minutes. I did want to make a good (and professional) impression, though, and I echo Liz in that when I want to do well at something or feel less nervous about speaking in front of people, I want to look good to feel good.
This outfit may look plain. It is a pretty basic look - fitted tee with a camisole to prevent excessive cleavage and neutral trousers with neutral boots. However, I really, really, really like this outfit. Why? I was wearing it when I found out that I got admitted to the PhD program I will be attending (well, I had on a different cami, but close enough).
I'm a big believer in fashion talismans, as we know, and I do believe in fashion superstitions. For example, if something bad happens to me while wearing something, I'll think twice before wearing it to a similar event. And vice versa - I look at this outfit as a lucky one, and though it is simple, it is dear in my heart. That's not to say that every time I have a bad day I have to throw away that outfit and burn sage. But I definitely do associate certain memories, good and bad, with certain clothing. It sounds ridiculous, but in college, after a certain guy broke my heart, I never wore the (very distinctive) socks I was wearing that day again. Good thing I didn't have on a pair of Christian Louboutins.
Prompts:
- Do you associate good and/or bad memories with the clothing you were wearing when they happened?
- Do you have any fashion superstitions?
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3 comments:
Near and dear to my heart this post resonates. I believe that clothes, shoes and jewelry have special abilities to invoke memories/leave an imprint on someone's mind. I still remember what I was wearing at my first dance.
Thank you for this post!
I certainly feel that having certain associations with clothing can impact how we feel when we wear them again. For example, I had a string of bad luck a few years back and noticed that every bad thing happened when I was wearing a purple shirt. I promptly went through my closet and got rid of every purple thing I owned. After all those negative experiences, I'm not sure I could ever feel confident in purple again; instead, I'd just be waiting for the next bad thing to happen!
I think I've written before about how I have a dress that I believe brings good luck to couples when I wear it to their weddings. Unfortunately, it did not bring me good luck during my MA defense, so I've been trying to re-write the narrative of that dress ever since then. (Because of COURSE my items of clothing have attached narratives. They're a reason we're lit studies people.)
In fact, I'm kind of depressed that I can't remember what I was wearing when I found out I'd been accepted to the PhD. I'm jealous.
I CAN remember what I was wearing when I was dealt the most debilitating blow of my romantic life. Red v-neck 3/4 sleeve shirt that used to belong to Krista. I kind of wish I HAD been wearing Louboutins, though, because with a price tag like that, surely they can also cure a broken heart, right?! : )
-Liz
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