Dress to Impress?

A 27 year old's lifelong dilemma

I have always wondered why people dress up, why fashion exists, and where people find such time and money?

I have gone to crazy extents to find the answers, gave up all makeup for a while , washed my face with soap, and dressed like a hippie for a month in himachal; then once got myself a haircut for 30 rupees, where I ended up paying fifty , thinking it was too little (it was a trim with a men’s roadside barber).

Yet there are times I feel like going back to dressing up, smelling good, and putting my best foot forward towards the road that lies ahead…

.

But, but, my comfort zone still lies in male boxers and loose tees; is it just me or is women’s clothing knowingly made so impractical and uncomfortable (hello, jumpsuits)?

One of the reasons for my disdain for dressing up could be pointed to the simplicity I was brought up with, which I hated growing up but really respect and thank my parents now for.

I think our mood DOES in fact affect how we feel about putting effort into our grooming and vanity, and why dressing better can help you with consistency and elevated confidence levels.

And I have experienced this, through various phases of my life, where there were times where I cared about my looks, capturing the world’s attention, maybe when I had my first crush and saw all girls putting on kajals and making those godforsaken pouffes.

It vanished when I started preparing for medical entrances . All that mattered was just somehow getting to the other side of the shitshow.

By the time I got to college, I had gained a lot of weight and wanted to feel good about myself in some way. and putting colors on my face was a sure shot way to instantly feel amazing, with just the right amount of perfume and the blouse that matches the jeans and goes with the shoes perfectly to set me up for a wonderful day.

I think we have established that how we look definitely helps in alleviating how we feel about ourselves.

Um, then,

Why are the sales of athleisure and comfort clothing skyrocketing since COVID.Stilleto sales have dropped sharply since 2020, reaching up to a 65% decrease in late 2023. The launch of pyjama pants has revolutionised office wear.

As a lazy person who only wants to do the bare minimum, it is a blessing, and since COVID, it has been a constant struggle to dress up in anything too uncomfortable.

My question has been answered, then ?

Well….

My new tryst came when I joined a really nice gym and realised I should network, and maybe wearing boxers wasn’t such a great idea for a first impression? Not that I am desperate to fit in , but dressing up better does feel more respectful.

It made me discover that the judgment criteria for doing something are not always tangible. It is symbolic—a sort of nudge to tell our brains to take things seriously, to take myself more seriously?

I always felt writing words in English are a human invention , so how would it matter if I texted my friends “hey wht u doig?” as long as the message is getting across?

I became even more arrogant about it when I found that the great scientist Richard P. Feynman, in his book "What do you care what people think?” seemed to agree with me.

He was humbled only in a little while though

Which has brought me to today, that yes, dressing up might change the thought of people initially and give you an opening, but unless you have some substance to back your outer covering, getting by will be hard. But it is the salt for the perfect recipe of human interaction; alone, it might not do anything for you, but with the perfectly cooked substance, put in the right amount, this SALT might just do some magic!