Who wears what?

CEBU, Philippines — It is not always easy to write about what to wear. There are risks to face. On one hand, the writing might just be too general to make sense to anyone. On the other, the writer would be expected to embody the ideas conveyed in the writing.

The subject of what to wear, therefore, is tricky to write about. Clothes are a main element of fashion, which is primarily concerned with how one looks in what one wears. And fashion can run against the fundamental purpose of clothes, which is to comfort the body.

A person can only truly look good in clothing that he or she is comfortable wearing. Looking good requires self-confidence, which can only grow in the soil of comfort. Thus, the point of fashion ultimately boils down to comfort.

It is common knowledge, though, that many people are willing to bear with utter discomfort for the sake of “looking good.” Those girls joining beauty pageants would attest to that. They could hardly breathe in outfits that don’t allow a millimeter of extra bulge, and yet they’re told to smile big as if everything is all right.

Among so-called beauty queens, the ‘torture’ is not limited to clothes on pageant night. For an eternity before and after the big day, they go on habitual fasting, as if eating were a sin. The great fixation on outward looks costs many people their very health, physical and psychological, but they’re just so willing to pay that price.

People try to fit in with the current fashion, to be trendy. It’s show business – everything is for a show. In the process, they let others dictate the kind of life experience they have.

Trying to look good is not bad. Humans are social beings that like to present themselves well to others, aiming for approval and acceptance, which in turn make them feel good about themselves. That’s all right… to a certain extent.

The counsel of the Greek philosopher Epictetus is a good guide: “Know first who you are, and then adorn yourself accordingly.” The point of the advice is not fashion – but personal style. Fashion, according to an expert on personality, is about looks and image that are popular in a specific time and period. Style, on the other hand, is more about expressing one’s individuality through clothes, and it doesn’t have an expiration date.

Who wears what? It depends. What do different individuals value more, looks or comfort?

Interestingly, people who clearly know what they want also have their values in the right order. And from their solid sense of certainty, a personal style emerges. They dress themselves up just right.

A confident personal style may not make one look like she is on her way to the fashion runway every day. But she is sure to look impressive – because she is all her own. She knows what to wear, when and where.