Week 1: Style Point of View

Week 1: Style Point of View

ASA 141

Franchesca Flores

Utilitarian Chic

Being able to express my personality and interests through my clothing has always been important to me since I was kid. When I was in elementary school I had to wear a uniform along with strict rules about accessories and appearance. I remember the day of my 6^thgrade graduation, we were able to wear what we wanted to walk across the stage. That day I decided to wear a bandana pattern dress that was blue and brown, with a pair of brown high-top Converses. I wouldn’t find myself in those colors today, but I can say that was the day I felt the most confident and happy with myself and with what I was wearing. 

In the reading The Globalization of Asian Dress, by Carla Jones and Ann Marie Leshkowich, they talk about the topic of performance and how the clothing we choose to make, sell, or consume is a platform for one to show their true identity in multiple ways such as, race, gender, class, age, etc. “…Performance is always more than the pure outward expression of an inner essential self. Rather, such a self does not exist.” (22) In a way my 6^thgrade graduation was my platform to perform my style and interests to my classmates and teachers that I never had the chance to at my elementary school.

My style today will always revolve around my pants or the bottoms I am wearing that day. I have a ridiculous amount of pants that can be found in orange, green, plaid, yellow, red and many more. I would say that pants are an important part of my fashion because I like to be comfortable in all occasions, but I do of course like to dress it up with dainty shirt or a white or black top. If I were to name my style it would be utilitarian chic!

 As for my question I want to ask, in what ways are can our inner egos be masked by clothing?