A rail of issues. Image: Emily Hildebrand
It’s 2012, you have probably been on a Reclaim the night march, or maybe a Slutwalk. You might have shouted at the TV as another news story about sexual assault breezes over another judge ascribing importance to what the woman involved was wearing. Chants of: “Whatever we wear, wherever we go, yes means yes and no means no!” are bound to have been driven home by now, right?
WRONG, oh you might not be asking for ‘it’ when you pull on a short skirt/low cut top/dungarees but Jennifer Baumgartner, Psy.D. has written a book, You Are What You Wear (see what she did there?) that tells us what message you are trying to send out by the clothes you chose today. And missy it is not ‘this was top of the clean pile’.
WRONG, oh you might not be asking for ‘it’ when you pull on a short skirt/low cut top/dungarees but Jennifer Baumgartner, Psy.D. has written a book, You Are What You Wear (see what she did there?) that tells us what message you are trying to send out by the clothes you chose today. And missy it is not ‘this was top of the clean pile’.
Of course we are all too aware that our clothes project some kind of message. We just might not have realised the message was more complex than – smart clothes = capable, scruffy clothes = day off, band T-shirt = you like that band, a hat = you’re a little zany.
Not since Trinny and Susannah realised their make-over show What Not to Wear could not contain their degrees in psychology from the University of Life (now is the time to admit when I inform people not to save things for best because they will never wear them I am paraphrasing Ms. Trinny Woodall – that is not a philosophy though, that is just common sense) and switched to ITV for their fashion and relationship advice show Trinny and Susannah Undress has the contents of your wardrobe been under such scrutiny.
As of today we can now stand before our wardrobes and deduce our inner unresolved conflicts. It’s true; a lot of people get stuck in a fashion rut. However I’m not convinced wearing the same thing every day is a signal of unresolved conflict or ‘life issues’, maybe when you hit a non-washing rut we can crack out the psychology books and be concerned. I usually work from home but I still get up and dressed in the morning like I am going to the office. I don’t need therapy to know pyjamas are not a suit.
If you find your wardrobe somewhat overstuffed, or have a host of unworn clothes you might think this is a sign of too much time spent in Primark, or a messy comment on the never ending sales on the high street. Dr. Jennifer Baumgartner argues that these clothes are ‘actually manifestations of deeper life issues’.
The blurb on the back of the book asks: “What if you could understand your appearance as a representation of your inner unresolved conflicts and then assemble a wardrobe to match the way you wish to be perceived?”
Yeah, what if?
“In this fashion guide that is like no other, Dr. Baumgartner helps readers identify the psychology behind their choices, so they can not only develop a personal style that suits their identity but also make positive changes in all areas of life.”
Sounds great! Women don’t spend enough time analysing the various unintentional signals they convey, ladies, you need to think of that jacket and that skirt as post it notes. When you are dressing think of yourself covering your body in post it notes with little messages on them. What do you want your post it notes to say?
Power hungry? Choose the extremely low cut top and push up bra. According to Baumgartner cleavage informs the world you are power hungry and controlling.
Attention seeking? Brace yourself, because this is pretty new. A young woman in a short skirt can be perceived as attention seeking. An older woman in a short skirt is not wearing whatever she gosh-darn chooses; she is refusing to grow the heck up.
Guilty and maternal? Here’s a popular one, if you want to demonstrate that you’re so busy with motherhood you are driving yourself to an early grave go with jeans! I would think badly fitted, cheap ones. Baumgartner says: “If you find yourself in jeans and trainers, you may be overly identifying with motherhood and suppressing other parts of yourself out of guilt or exhaustion.”
Dumb but tall? It is sky-high heels for you. Apparently heels make women seem less intelligent. However if you can manage to walk in a pair huge enough to bring you eye to eye with your male colleagues you will inspire confidence. Confused? Well, at least you’re tall.
Squeamish Kate
Not since Trinny and Susannah realised their make-over show What Not to Wear could not contain their degrees in psychology from the University of Life (now is the time to admit when I inform people not to save things for best because they will never wear them I am paraphrasing Ms. Trinny Woodall – that is not a philosophy though, that is just common sense) and switched to ITV for their fashion and relationship advice show Trinny and Susannah Undress has the contents of your wardrobe been under such scrutiny.
As of today we can now stand before our wardrobes and deduce our inner unresolved conflicts. It’s true; a lot of people get stuck in a fashion rut. However I’m not convinced wearing the same thing every day is a signal of unresolved conflict or ‘life issues’, maybe when you hit a non-washing rut we can crack out the psychology books and be concerned. I usually work from home but I still get up and dressed in the morning like I am going to the office. I don’t need therapy to know pyjamas are not a suit.
If you find your wardrobe somewhat overstuffed, or have a host of unworn clothes you might think this is a sign of too much time spent in Primark, or a messy comment on the never ending sales on the high street. Dr. Jennifer Baumgartner argues that these clothes are ‘actually manifestations of deeper life issues’.
The blurb on the back of the book asks: “What if you could understand your appearance as a representation of your inner unresolved conflicts and then assemble a wardrobe to match the way you wish to be perceived?”
Yeah, what if?
“In this fashion guide that is like no other, Dr. Baumgartner helps readers identify the psychology behind their choices, so they can not only develop a personal style that suits their identity but also make positive changes in all areas of life.”
Sounds great! Women don’t spend enough time analysing the various unintentional signals they convey, ladies, you need to think of that jacket and that skirt as post it notes. When you are dressing think of yourself covering your body in post it notes with little messages on them. What do you want your post it notes to say?
Power hungry? Choose the extremely low cut top and push up bra. According to Baumgartner cleavage informs the world you are power hungry and controlling.
Attention seeking? Brace yourself, because this is pretty new. A young woman in a short skirt can be perceived as attention seeking. An older woman in a short skirt is not wearing whatever she gosh-darn chooses; she is refusing to grow the heck up.
Guilty and maternal? Here’s a popular one, if you want to demonstrate that you’re so busy with motherhood you are driving yourself to an early grave go with jeans! I would think badly fitted, cheap ones. Baumgartner says: “If you find yourself in jeans and trainers, you may be overly identifying with motherhood and suppressing other parts of yourself out of guilt or exhaustion.”
Dumb but tall? It is sky-high heels for you. Apparently heels make women seem less intelligent. However if you can manage to walk in a pair huge enough to bring you eye to eye with your male colleagues you will inspire confidence. Confused? Well, at least you’re tall.
Squeamish Kate
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