We Are What We Wear

I’m staring at the person sitting across from me. Their lips are moving, but I can’t hear a word they are saying because I’m reading their shirt, which depicts a duck giving a rude gesture and the words ‘Ask me if I give a quack’. To put it into better context, this is a job interview and the person wearing this shirt is applying for a job… a customer service job. Although this was many years ago, I still remember how incredulous the applicant was when I told him I found his choice of clothing questionable. "No one will know what I’m wearing over the phone" he countered. "Ah, but you will." was my response.
The written word is a powerful thing, be it a newspaper, a heartfelt thank you note or the front of a shirt. And so it goes, wearing jewelry and clothing with a message sends a strong statement about who we are and what people can expect from us. And in that sense, we are what we wear.
Perhaps it is my English major background, but I have always had a penchant for clothing and jewelry with words on them, and still wear an original ‘Just Do It’ Nike tee I bought in college. That slogan was advertising genius, and gives me extra motivation for my weekend chores. How can I be lazy when the words JUST DO IT taunt me from my tee?
Even as I suspect I’m getting too old to wear clothing with words on them, I can’t resist adding to my collection. Just ask my fiancé, who has waited impatiently as I shop through stacks of witty wearables, reading them aloud as his eyes glaze over. Some of my favorites are ‘University of Wishful Thinking’, ‘Never, ever give up’, and a two sided tee that reads ‘consistency’ on the front and ‘longevity’ on the back. I also have several ‘be’ shirts (my initials) which read: ‘be.loved’, ‘be.involved’ and ‘be.you’. But my favorite is ‘Little Miss Sunshine’, because everyone who knows me gets the joke.
I also collect jewelry with words of inspiration. I have necklaces that read ‘believe’, ‘imagine’, ‘hope’ and ‘what you think you become’. My jewelry choice sets the intention for the day, and I recall that intention each time I check to be sure the clasp has not twisted to the front. The symbolism behind the message can change depending on the circumstance. Asked what my ‘imagine’ necklace means by a Boys & Girls Club member, I said, "Imagine how wonderful your life will be." When asked the same thing at work, the answer is "Imagine what we can achieve together." And both interpretations are true in their moment. My favorite necklace is an etched square with a star and the words ‘I wish I may’, conjuring up our wish upon a star childhood dreams when nothing seemed impossible.
I also received a beautiful bracelet as a gift when I ended my term as President of a newspaper organization. It is engraved with the words ‘Responsible, Productive, Caring’- an excerpt from the mission statement of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. This gift sends so many positive messages that I can’t help but be inspired when I wear it.
Even our unconscious clothing choices can speak volumes about ourselves. On a vacation to a ranch in Arizona, I participated in a program that combined horseback riding with psychology, where our interactions with horses were meant to reveal inner truths. In our final session, participants sat in a circle and spilled their guts about the lessons they learned. I remained stoic and silent, feeling silly that I didn’t have the intense revelation expected of me. When I expressed this to the instructor, I was surprised when he softly asked "Would you say it was true that you were always picked last for schoolyard games, and never really felt wanted?" "Hmmm…why would you say that?" I asked suspiciously. "Because you waited to see which horses everyone else picked and went to the horse no one wanted." Good guess, I thought. He continued with "Would you say you struggle with your self esteem, and put everyone before yourself?" "Why would you think that?" I muttered uncomfortably. "Because you are wearing a shirt with the number 2 on it…" which sent the group into hysterics. And he was right, on all counts, right down to the unintended yet accurate statement the simple number 2 printed on my tank top made. Did I buy the shirt for that reason? Nope. Did I recognize the truth in the message when someone else pointed it out? I sure did.
So the question I ponder is, can we change the world’s perception of us by changing our clothing choices? Or does the true person inside shine through despite our best attempts at camouflage? The answer stares back at me from the bracelet on my wrist that simply reads, ‘be who you are’.