That’s fashion, sweetie: prepare with me

I’ve been focusing a lot on my mental health this year. Working to break free from toxic tendencies, coming to terms with myself, and practicing self-acceptance isn’t the easiest thing to do, especially if you’re not sure how to get started.

I noticed that journaling helped me a lot, especially when I was doing songs like Mazzy Star’s “Fade into You” or unreleased Lana Del Rey demos, but the other thing that helped me get in touch with my inner child was dressing up. up

I love shopping and dressing up, but there’s nothing more inspiring and stimulating than rummaging through my mother’s closet as if I were five years old again, waiting for my feet to grow into her fabulous, hand-picked collection of shoes.

But as my confidence grows, so does my dressing. While I was working on that, shaving my clothes made me wonder why we dress in certain ways.

For designer shows, guests and celebrities are expected to wear a designer label: new, unreleased or vintage. It’s a slap in the face to wear another brand, and one of the most disrespectful and understated things a celebrity or influencer can do on the runway.

But there is still scrutiny over why celebrities wear the label if they look “bad” in the clothes. Because it’s celebrating the future and paying homage to the work behind the original collection. If the outfit doesn’t really look good, the blame falls on the stylists rather than the celebrities themselves (although the celebrity should take the public beating).

This is because it is a kind of test: how much effort is the ambassador or guest willing to make for their host?

Some may think this event is silly or silly, but we do the same thing every day with our social dress code.

When I go to a business or networking event, I understand that my dress should be longer, and if not, it should be a tight fit. Dresses must not be seen and sneakers are not allowed.

When we meet our significant other’s parents, we wear our best clothes.

Part of this is the literal dress code (although this may also be unspoken) – but also, it’s about respecting the social dress code.

The hardest part, however, is not following the dress code, but understanding it and learning how to put together an appropriate outfit in response to it.

Some might think it’s about matching and complementing. The dress should be long or short, according to the third rule of proportion. Heel height follows the same rules. Follow a three-to-two-thirds ratio of pants and skirts to make you look longer, or flip them over to elongate your knees.

While math and calculations are helpful, they are not the key to a good outfit. One, because matching and matching is subject to people and their personal style. But the most important thing, because the secret of proper dressing is not 100% how it looks physically in human eyes.

Secretly, it is only about 50%. The other half is about purpose: the idea of ​​color, the idea of ​​silhouette, the brand and the reaction to the situation in mind.

The way you dress can cause different reactions, expectations (currently and in the future) and perceptions, and each can speak for you and others and define you in an unforgettable way – but be careful, this can be a good thing or a bad thing.

Of course, it depends on your needs.

Your response to society and general dress codes is important because the key to mastering purpose is to understand that costumes are not just clothes. They dress up and think, “Just fine.”

An outfit is planned and examined from multiple angles and (sometimes) consulted with a second party. The costume becomes an extension and expression of the self and can change between a bridge and a shield with one swift movement of body language.

A dress inspires self-confidence and calls for an inner glow from your chest. Instead of walking, you’re walking, and every moment feels like a scene from a movie. It’s not usually a matter of looking attractive or having clothes chosen by the all-round designer, Karl Lagerfeld himself. It is an intrinsic, proven and proven objective.

It transforms your physical space from body to body, and your thinking from neutral and content to reflective, confident and abundant.

This is the same with performance art as with makeup. Doja Cat has been key to transforming the application and purpose behind cosmetics, concealing and enhancing the past into performance art in everyday life. Part of her expertise comes from her incredible creativity and unique mind, which includes a battered look for Balenciaga, false eyelashes for Viktor & Rolf, and a Swarovski-encrusted face and body for Schiaparelli.

Of course, part of the hesitation comes from the purpose behind makeup as a product. At this point I’ve covered up hickeys for almost all of my male friends and eventually perfected my phone to cover up the most annoying pimples. I finally learned how to use blush to enhance my face shape and cheekbones.

But when you suddenly think of art, makeup is not in the same conversation.

Part of this lack of seeing makeup as a way to tell stories in our everyday lives comes from our stigmatization of art. Art is rare and expected to be made of blood, sweat and tears, unless you’re familiar with artists like Yayoi Kusama, Keith Haring and Takashi Murakami through dressage or spare time.

It takes an astronomical amount of time for us (supposedly) inscrutable, unintelligent human beings. In this way, as we walk through the art galleries we reflect on the meaning of the pieces and our impact on the world. So, we appreciate it even more when we come to terms with the limits of our art and (very likely) are looking at one of the original artist-print pieces.

The joke in the art world is whether art is art at all, and if so, is there even art if it’s all art? It is a cyclical cycle of what and existence that is only physically confirmed by the art market, investors, entrepreneurship, and the presence of museums and galleries.

So if this same idea is applied to makeup, what does makeup do instead of art? It boils down to a purpose.

Performance art makeup doesn’t need to be obvious and in-your-face, just like contemporary art can contain blank canvases that make people laugh and think, “I could do that.” Thinking of drawing a picture of a sweet girl with fublegum #ffc1cc pink instead of sultry, a mysterious Parisian woman with no blush but blood-maroon #381313 red lips are still right. My face and makeup products are choices that tell a story out of passion.

So the next time you have to go somewhere that requires some kind of dress code – whether it’s defined formally or as part of a daily routine – choose an outfit and do your makeup deliberately.

“Boring”, “everyday”, “I have nothing to wear” Not only does your mind have a lot of creative space with your clothes, but you may surprise yourself with how your reactions to people, life and new opportunities change.

Hadin Phillips is a secondary text that discusses fashion in the 21st century, particularly new trends and popular controversies. Her column, “This is Fashion, Sweet,” runs every Tuesday.