Many of us would like to think that the clothes we purchase and the combinations we choose to wear are solely based on our personal taste and style. We make our own fashion decisions with no outside influence or peer pressure. This is only partially true. It is not a secret that the advertising industry, the fashion industry, and even Hollywood cater to our subconscious mind and influence the decisions we make when it comes to fashion and style. Most want their wardrobe to be up-to-date. How is up-to-date determined? Well, ad campaigns are only revealing the latest line. Hollywood stars are dressed in whatever is deemed to be IN or the upcoming trend. You may argue that these entities don't determine what you put on in the morning, but to the contrary. Unless you are part of the minority that actually designs and/or makes your own clothing, every garment in your closet is influenced by an outside source. Even how you choose to put those items together to make a complete outfit has some elements of someone else. It could be something you saw in a magazine or something your girlfriend or homeboy wore the last time you all hung out. This is not to suggest that you had no originality in your outfit, but it is likely that each look you walk out of the house with is not completely your own.
In psychology there is a phenomenon known as "collective behavior". Merriam-Webster defines this as the mass behavior of a group whether animal or human (as mob action) : the unified action of an assembly of persons whether organized or not; also : the like or similar response of the members of a society to a given stimulus or suggestion. This is prevalent when it comes to fashion. How else can you explain a Macy's in Washington, DC having a totally different collection of clothes than the same chain in Miami, FL? Individuals in certain geographic locations tend to all have a similar look. Think about it. You pass someone on the street and based on their hairstyle you might say, they must be from Baltimore, she is surely a California girl, he is from the dirty south. We associate certain trends to geographic locations and even demographically. If my mother were to show up to a party in 5 inch stilettos someone might comment that she is trying to be young again. Why? Collective behavior says that a woman her age should be dressing more conservative. However, if it is something she likes and looks good in, why would it be deemed inappropriate?
Moving beyond the fact that fashion is not 100% individualistic, I do believe that what you wear should compliment who you are. Negating the new trend of online meeting, people see you before they ever hold a conversation with you. Your personality can be expressed before you ever open your mouth to form a word to someone. How do we move beyond collective behavior to really allow fashion to be an expression of the individual? Glad you asked! After you see the trends get in touch with yourself and make every outfit your own so that in some way it brags about who you are as an individual. Despite what psychology teaches, you can still be in charge of your own style even if everything in your closet was designed by someone else. How you choose to take different garments and display them on your body is when fashion becomes art. You can only be an original artist once you dig deep into yourself and transcend what the ads display and tweak what it is you see your friends, family, co-workers, and even strangers around you are wearing. The ladies of Sex and the City, living in one of the fashion capitals of the world, each had their own distinct style and look. Sometimes they were trendy and sometimes they pushed the envelope and became fashion forward. Each of their personalities came out in what they put on. You can do the same thing. Take what is and make it your own. It just takes time, effort, and creativity. If you feel you are not up to the challenge...you just need A Divo's Touch!
