Fashion Fix
According to “Developmental Psychology Today,” college students generally fit into the “early adulthood” category (ages 20-30). If we are all in this “on-my-own-and-growing-up” stage, then wouldn’t our clothes naturally reflect that? And if they do, isn’t there a scientific way to decide if your own clothes reflect a less than mature “not-normal” self?
In 1990, a national survey was taken of more than 15,000 high school seniors, and 62 percent of them said they agree with their parents’ views on how to dress. The other 38 percent might have been the kids who would have used fashion to rebel. Think of hippies in the 1960s. (Adolescence is ages 12-19, and it is normal to want to test your boundaries.)
But now that we are in college, our clothes may be changing. If yours are- Congratulations, you are considered “normal!” In a famous theory by Erik Erickson, Erickson classifies this early adulthood phase as “intimacy vs. identity.” This theory is basically saying that as young adults, we are struggling to form a successful identity on our own. Yet at the same time, we want to find intimacy with the people around us. Translated into clothes, you should be wearing clothes that reflect your new interests and goals.
A diary entry on the topic of the week…
I went to Capital City tonight, and there was this girl there that looked just like me! She had on the same turtleneck-like strapless shirt, and her hair was up with a headband! It freaked me out. You see, I had taken a nap all day, and when I woke, I decided to move all my living room furniture around. Then my roommate came home and said, “Corey Smith in twenty minutes!” So, I ran upstairs. I figure dressing on the go always calls for your favorite pair of jeans. They look good with anything. A spontaneous concert calls for the hot shirt you always put off wearing. Bed head? A headband and bobby pins do the trick. I wonder what her story is.
Now some deep thoughts…
Dressing normal? There is no such thing. Sometimes I see herds of people all wearing the exact same thing. But no one is to say that’s not normal too. Often though, I will pass by someone that makes me stop and wonder, “What’s that person up to?” Regardless of our fashion normalities, repeat after me: “I have a life, and so do you. Understood.” If you remember that, it will remind you: a) That what you have on is perfect for the person that matters, yourself; and b) That clothes give you insight to the people around you. Meaning, if you notice his shirt has paint on it too, be like “What’s up? I painted my room gray too!” Or in my case, “Like the headband; Corey Smith was awesome.”
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Oct 14 2005. Filed under Other.
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