Fashion as Armor

I have been thinking a lot about why fashion is so powerful lately. Obviously, it is a tool with which to mold your image and can help you present yourself in a certain way. But, I think that when you truly learn what works for you, fashion can be something even stronger. I like to think of it as my modern-day armor.

When I get dressed, I feel most confident when my outfit has a tough-girl vibe to it. I prefer dark colors – black, grey and army green tend to be my favorites – and I love to accessorize with leather jackets, leather vests, leather boots and leather bags. I don’t wear a lot of jewelry, but if I do, I like it best when it involves studs, leather, chains or lock and key motifs.

After analyzing why I prefer to dress this way, I realized that perhaps the reason was deeper than the fact that I just “liked” these aesthetics…maybe it was a reflection of my personality.

And the answer is not maybe, but definitely. I am a pretty sensitive person – more than one person has told me to get a thicker skin. But, since that is easier to say than do, I put on a tough exterior to hide this sensitivity. My motorcycle boots, army green cargo pants and distressed leather jackets help me create this exterior and I feel that much better because of it.

So, if you are having trouble finding your style, maybe you should evaluate what kind of armor you need. Perhaps you are a woman in a male-dominated business and you need structured suits and menswear-inspired pieces to assert your presence. Maybe you require girly details and silhouettes that show off your figure in order to feel more feminine. Or maybe you need to wear high heels every day in order to fend off your self-consciousness about your height.
My bet is that once you can put a finger on the type of armor that your personality needs, the fashion will fall into place…

–Marisa