We all aspire to not only feel confident all the time but to act and look confident. We all strive to be admired and look good on the outside. But maybe we don’t always realize that we are not alone in our insecurities.
For centuries, women have been encouraged to wear clothing that accentuates certain parts of their bodies. From 1600 B.C.E., when women wore corsets to contour the shape of their bodies into what men deemed attractive, to modern times were showing more skin is more attractive (not too much, though), women have had this idea of “the perfect body” pounded into their heads. This makes it very difficult for many women- young girls in particular- to accept their body types.
Historically, a woman’s body was the way that she could thrive in the patriarchal societies in which she lived. Women have been used for their bodies through marriages, class structures, and
“Wearing loose clothing helps me feel more confident because it helps hide my insecurities,” said junior Makenna Lee.
We often think that hiding our imperfections by wearing loose clothing is the way to go, although- simultaneously- we want to look stylish and trendy. “The current trends [include] tight-fitted, small clothing….but I feel a lot of judgement, especially from men, with whatever I wear. Whether I wear clothes that show too much skin, or too little, I still feel people judging the way that I choose to dress myself,” said senior Allison Groustra.
Additionally, it can feel difficult to “stay with current trends” when the trends don’t necessarily fit your body type. Whether you might feel that the clothing you are expected to wear highlights your insecurities, or it is just downright uncomfortable, many women feel the same judgement you are facing.
Many fast fashion stores such as Brandy Melville or John Galt, that sell “trendy clothing”, only sell clothes in one size, being XS or XXS. They only market to one audience- the one with the slimmest and most petite bodies. Although they are making clothes for girls who may not fit into other stores’ clothing, this makes other girls who don’t fit the “one size fits all” standard feel not good enough.
This toxic marketing culture these companies have created is very detrimental to the way girls view themselves. When you go shopping for a skirt and see a “one size fits all” tag, you’d assume it means it can stretch to adapt to all body types. Although in reality, it is quite the opposite. By “one size fits all,” they really mean is “only one size is welcome in our store.”
Groustra and other young women at Littleton are not alone in feeling judged by the way they choose to dress themselves.
“If you dress in nice clothes, people might say you are dressing too fancy or trying too hard. If you are underdressed, you feel out of place,” said junior Jalen Capps.
This mindset of not being able to dress the way that enables you to feel the most confident because of what other people will say is part of the problem. If you wear a hoodie and some sweatpants, you are not trying hard enough. But if you wear a dress, you are trying too hard. People are constantly trying to urge women to conform to the beauty standards set forth by society. They want you to show curves, but also leave something to the imagination. This creates an abundance of body image issues especially in young women who are just discovering what they want their style to be.
It is difficult to feel empowered to wear what makes you feel the best on any given day when you are constantly feeling judgment from your peers. But you are not alone in feeling the eyes of society’s judgment watching you design your wardrobe. So wear what you want with confidence, express yourself freely and without fear of judgment. But most importantly, don’t let what you wear prevent you from being yourself.
