With shoe laces tied, bracelets jingling and hair swinging in the wind, a teenager steps out of his or her front door and into the day. From a favorite band tee or the colorful eye shadow splashed across one’s face, a person’s sense of style communicates an aspect of her personality to her onlookers. The artistic process followed by the designers behind each piece of clothing or jewelry, combined with the daily collage of pieces, patch together to create an outfit, displays that the process of getting ready each day acts as a form of art. As with any art, fashion becomes an expression of creativity, significant in both beauty and emotion.
“My clothes and makeup are definitely an art form for me! Although I tend to dress basic most days cause it’s easiest, I really love dressing alternative/vintage/y2k. My makeup, for the most part, is simple, but if I do creative makeup, I feel that my makeup and outfits represent my creative nature, interests, and personality. Also, I think my style reflects some of the music I listen to. I often find myself inspired by other art forms of fashion. Especially if I see different shapes in fashion that I realize are flattering on me, or colors. My style definitely impacts how I see the world and art, having an alternative/vintage/y2k style allows me to see the world and art through a creative lens,” sophomore Emma Woods said.
The part of the process that tends to automatically fall into the category of the arts lies in the design of each garment. As men and women sit in studios, picking fabrics and sketching out their ideas, both creative and functional work takes shape. The sculptural pieces that grace runaways across the globe certainly fall into the category of art. Still, art extends beyond exhibition in the graphics splashed across t-shirts in the mall, the grandma’s hand-sewn dress and the unique pairs of jeans found at Goodwill. This daily wear tells stories just as any other creative work would, with the intentional patches and unique style choices blending with unavoidable wear and tear, clothing manages to say not just what the designer liked, but how the wearer lived. The people who design, source the fabrics for, cut and sew these pieces come together as artists, stitching together a unique product. From the length of the stitches to the hue of the ribbons, each aspect of a piece reflects its makers.
Beyond the creativity that molds a necklace or blouse, each person wakes up to the routine of pairing the right colors and shapes together into an outfit that lets him or her feel confident. This collage of others’ art shapes into its own medium as non-nudists work with the canvas of their bodies. Inspiration drawn from personal interests, social media and the people around an individual takes shape in the layers, different jewelry styles and cultural inspirations included. These outfits become a source for creative expression as fashionistas wear coverings unconventionally and draw inspiration from what they love and hate.
“I use fashion to portray feelings, when it comes to photography. Personally, when I’m at school or in places other than my own home, fashion has represented points in my life, fluctuating with the content I consume and the clothing I own. I feel the way I blend fashion with other art forms remains more apparent in my photoshoots. Enjoying the varying genres of music with specific sounds, the outfits often are inspired by the actual artist behind the song or the way I interpreted the song’s sentiment with the clothes that I have to work with,” magnet junior and Director of Photography at Dresscode, Gabriel Campos said.
While those without a passion for fashion may argue that building a regular, day-to-day outfit rarely manifests as an art form, even the simplest outfit holds the potential for expression. Though mass produced pieces grace the closets of millions, the unique wear and tear on each person’s garments showcases a piece of their lives. The stain from a smoothie, the patched hole and the caught yarn on a sweater all pile together in a closet and then on a person to tell a story about his or her life. With the carefully selected pieces, perfect for a wearer’s active lifestyle or artistic habits, these unique traits expand. One’s sense of style affirms both self identity and outward presentation. Though a minority follow the New York City Green Lady’s habit of only wearing their favorite colors, the unique pieces which call to people at the thrift store or the utilitarian workwear required by a job each await pairings in hairstyle, makeup, shoes or layers that will create a cohesive picture of the way a person moves through life. If a mini skirt screams liberation and a vintage element communicates interest in the past, an entire outfit builds and blends a depiction of a complete person, one unique, even, from the others who might wear a similar element.
As both billionaires and beggars build a morning ritual around mindfully readying themselves and creatively expressing their interests and moods, their mental health evidently stands to improve. Not only does enjoying one’s personal style build confidence as they find communities that share interests, the practice of daily creativity encourages mindfulness and emotional regulation. One’s personal favorite part of the process, whether found in makeup, accessorizing, layering or simply picking and changing the clothes, transforms into an artistic practice, both building healthy expression and intentional thought. Ultimately, the confidence to step outside the house each day with a significant portion of one’s identity outwardly showing grows in practice and one can apply that courage to any part of life.
