I know: you’re thinking this is a stretch. What could clothing cum style have anything to do with wellness? Allow me about 15 minutes to explain my perspective on how your fashion game can help you to show up in the world—FABulously.
A number of people have likened your fashion style to a manner of self-care. In some minds, fashion-- whether clothes, shoes, or accessories-- has a profound effect on mood and persona.
Luxury show designer, Christian Louboutin, said: “Shoes transform your body language and attitude. They lift you physically and emotionally.”
The late French fashion designer, Yves Saint Laurent, said: “I have always believed that fashion was not only to make women more beautiful, but also to reassure them, give them confidence.”
Iconic late fashion photographer of stylish everyday people, Bill Cunningham, once said “Fashion is the armor to survive the reality of everyday life.”
American designer, Ralph Lauren, said: “Fashion is not necessarily about labels. It’s not about brands. It’s about something else that comes from within you.”
British designer, Vivienne Westwood: “Fashion is very important. It is life-enhancing, and, like everything that gives pleasure, it is worth doing well.”
Italian fashion house doyenne, Miuccia Prada, “What you wear is how you present yourself to the world, especially today, when human contacts are so quick. Fashion is instant language.”
I believe that fashion is one aspect of wellness, in the way that your choice of clothing, how you display your style—is a form of self-expression. Speaking your truth and speaking up for yourself can be done without saying a word. You do this by what you choose to wear. In my opinion, fashion is both an art form as well as an outward manifestation of individual creativity.
Showing up as you are and how you want to be perceived is an act of self-love and is, in itself, self-assuring. Self-love is an essential element of confidence and self-empowerment. When you wear something that you know you look FABulous in, you feel good. If you feel good, then maybe you will do good. And that’s a good thing!
Ok, listen. So, maybe fashion won’t save the world. After all, the fashion industry is a major offender of environmental assaults.
But, as the late Karl Lagerfeld stated, maybe fashion designers, through their creations, can help to make the “earth more pleasant.”
If you think nothing of fashion, consider Ms. Coco Chanel’s words: “Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street; fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.” Fashion does reflect our times; it is a marker of history. When historic events occur, people change. And when people change, fashion adjusts to mirror the times. Fashion commemorates cultural history.
The title of a paper by Ceyda Yildiz, while she was a student at the New York City College of Technology, succinctly summarizes that “Fashion is Cultural History by It’s Reflection of the Zeitgeist.”
She adds that “Fashion is cultural history through its representation in influence of culture, fabric in fashion, social norms, diversity, and social inspirations of society… Fashion is way more than a trend, it reflects and captures the culture and history of its society, bringing inspiration to generations that’s to come.”
Wouldn’t you agree?
Rachel Roy said “A great dress can make you remember what is beautiful about life.” I agree! Why not wear a gown at breakfast to celebrate the new day?!
Two schools exist: one that touts fashion as everything; the other, that style is distinct from fashion. Ralph Lauren famously said that “Style is very personal. It has nothing to do with fashion. Fashion is over quickly. Style is forever.”
Woman of style, —Iris Apfel noted that "Fashion you can buy, but style you possess. The key to style is learning who you are, which takes years. There's no how-to road map to style. It's about self-expression and, above all, attitude."
The FABulous Donatella Versace said “Fashion is all about happiness. It’s fun. It’s important. But it’s not medicine.”
No matter here you fit along the spectrum—fashionista or style maven, fashion as fun or as healing—I think we can all agree that what you wear helps you to define you and to do you—that’s real, true, and authentic to you.
In the end, it’s what matters most—you—all of you-- with all of your talent, natural gifts, and superpowers.
FAB Five Tips on fashion:
1. Dress for your success.
2. Don your frocks for your pleasure, not the approval of others.
3. Follow your heart and your instincts, not the trends necessarily.
4. Allow your fashion choices to express you, your mood, aspects of your personality, your point of view… but do keep some mystery about you.
5. Whatever you are facing, dress the part to bring about the best in you.
In closing, I leave you with these words of fashion wisdom from two style icons.
“You can have anything you want in life, if you dress for it.”
– Edith Head
And
“Give a girl the right shoes, and she can conquer the world.”