The routine is the same every morning. After my cup of coffee, which I get to enjoy snuggled in my robe at the kitchen table, I head back upstairs to change into my outfit for the day. I stare at the clothes hanging or, more likely, wade through the sea of clean clothes gathered on the floor. Exhale. This is a necessary evil, I tell myself. I do this every day to cover and protect my body. My two arms, two legs, and torso, just like every other person on this planet.
I dress to reflect
my goal
my feelings
my expectations
my beliefs
my values
for the day, for the season.
Photo by Tamara Bellis on Unsplash
The clothing one wears is a strong statement. We know a nun is a nun by her habit and whimple. We know a person expects warm weather when they wear shorts (or in the case of my son, can't find his pants).
Fashion is powerful! Fashion is daring! When Lady Gaga wore a meat dress to the MTV Music Awards in 2010 it showed her values, that she is "not a piece of meat!(1)" Amelia Bloomer shocked society and added fire to the Women's Rights Movement in the 1800s, pushing for safer clothing choices, specifically shortening dresses and being rid of corsets (2).
This is why I have decided to wear a dress every day for a year: to make a statement, to show what is important to me.
It's going to be
fun
challenging
There is another reason:
I get so many choices every day. What will I wear? Where will I go? What will I do? To whom will I talk? Whom will I touch?
Women affected by trafficking and prostitution don't have all those choices on a daily basis. Putting down one of my choices is nothing.
In 2019, I will get up and drink my cup of coffee in my nightgown and snuggly robe, then head upstairs and put on a dress for the day.
(1) https://www.reuters.com/article/us-gaga-idUSTRE68C4NR20100913
(2) https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/amelia-bloomer