ELEMENTS OF STYLE: PART V.II
PART V.II
Imani Smith
11.11.19
Thank you again for joining me in my musings on The Elements of Style. In previous installments, I’ve examined these elements three at a time. With this project I’ve uncovered some correlations between our mental health and the style choices that we make. Style and mental health/wellness are two things that are near and dear to my heart. I want to dig a little deeper and explore these correlations individually with their own respective installments because I believe in the importance of this subject matter. In no way am I a psychologist, but I am intuitive, empathetic and very aware of the highs and lows of the human experience.
As a stylist, I’m being trusted with the privilege to help reframe a client’s image, be it for a quick photo shoot or for their personal wardrobes for years at a time. Regardless of the nature of the task at hand, I never lose sight of the fact that there is a human being underneath the clothes, shoes and accessories. Although our paths feel individual, there are more similarities than differences in our experiences. It won’t be the first or last time I say this: Some of our style habits are what truly unite us.
This next Element of Style almost goes hand in hand with Mannequin Styling, an element discussed in a previous installment. This element is something that I have observed a lot of people struggling with and I have struggled with it tremendously in the past, as well. What is it? Label Worship. Some of us are only moved by high profile designer label items and nothing else will suffice. Only recognizable logos and high markups excite the Label Worshiper. There are several reasons why people only find value in ‘designer’ items, but I can only assume that any reason is in relation to some sort of external pressure.
A commonly overlooked fact about luxury items is that when wealthy people purchase them, they’re not spending their last dime to have these items. Their wealth allows them to have more disposable income for frivolous purchases like $300 scarves and $10,000 coats. Often people who aren’t wealthy get mesmerized by the illusion of wealth, and what wealth ‘looks like’ based on a combination of advertisements, celebrity endorsement and that underlying need to ‘keep up with the Jones’’. On some level, everyone wants to look their best. To the Label Worshiping client, looking their best is only possible when there are big name labels involved.
As an eternal student of fashion, I have an undying appreciation for all things luxurious and sophisticated. If my budget allowed for expensive, ornately crafted pieces from my favorite designers, I would most definitely indulge. I value craftsmanship, I appreciate unique details and I covet exclusivity. These are all reasons why it was difficult for me to break away from the notion that just because something was the most expensive automatically meant that it was the most valuable. I had to come to terms with the way that I perceived value. Eventually, I had to choose between having an expansive wardrobe or an expensive one. My budget simply wouldn’t allow for me to have both. Coming to this realization is what helped me to break away from Label Worship. If you know me personally, it’s clear that I chose to go the route of the expansive wardrobe. Fortunately, I am aware of all of the Elements of Style and none of my pieces look as inexpensive as they actually were upon purchase.
If you actually have the means to afford a well-rounded wardrobe full of luxury items that serve you season after season, you are very fortunate. For the rest of us, it may be helpful to learn to curb the deep seated need to impress others by flaunting designer labels and to find other ways to validate ourselves. Doing something, an act of generosity, helping someone in need or indulging in your favorite hobby all feel just as good as a compliment on the pricey handbag that you may or may not have been able to afford. As I’ve stated in previous installments of EOS, great personal style is rooted in confidence. Confidence doesn’t have to come from a potential overextension of your finances or compliments from strangers about your implied wealth. In this capitalist society, wealth is synonymous with success. The real gag here is that style can’t be bought, only rented.
If you cut all of the tags out of your pieces, would you still value them? If the answer is no, it may be time to reevaluate the way that you perceive value. It’s easy to forget the timeless cliché: The clothes don’t make the man, the man makes the clothes. At the end of the day, it is you who brings your pieces to life, not the tags stitched inside of them. Personal style is an outward expression of our true selves but if you’re having trouble separating yourself from your wardrobe or other material possessions, partnering with a mental health professional could be a step in the right direction. If you find yourself overspending on items that aren’t really strengthening your wardrobe, the help of a skilled stylist could help with implementing some healthier shopping habits into your routine. 