If there’s something that people know about me is that I absolutely love to talk about what I believe in, and I believe in social equality, feminism, dogs and that women can wear whatever they want, whenever they want. So, when I see that someone argues against my beliefs/opinions, I have to respond.
Last week I read an article that called women out for their choice of clothing, claiming that if you’re a grown woman, then you need to dress like one. The writer, Rachel Kiser, stated that she was shocked to find out what women wore to school, which ranged from Nike shorts and leggings to football jerseys and dirty white Converse, while still making sure that their eyebrows were full and that their lashes were covered in perfect coats of mascara. Kiser continued by saying that since she attended private school for the majority of her life, she was beyond shocked to see how people dressed in school. She also asserted that her mother taught her that in order to be successful, then you must look successful and that she dresses for the success that she wants to have. Kiser finished her article by - ironically - encouraging women to feel beautiful every day, but to leave the leggings for lazy days.
Personally, I was taken aback when I read the article. When I initially read the the title, I thought it was written in a sarcastic manner; so, I decided to read it for the laughs. Coincidentally, I did laugh, but it was more of a surprised/i-feel-slightly-insulted kind of laugh.
As many of the women at UC Irvine, and any other university, I enjoy wearing leggings, baggy shirts and worn out shoes to class while still wearing makeup. Personally, I wear these types of clothing because they’re comfortable and because I feel good in them. I don’t feel lazy, messy or bad about myself when I wear them.
Additionally, like Kiser, I also went to a private school for most of my life; in fact, UC Irvine is the first public institution that I have attended during my entire education. However, unlike Kiser, I was not shocked when I saw that women dressed comfortably to attend class, nor was I insulted enough to write an entire article about women’s physical appearance in school [on the other hand, I felt shamed enough to write a response to Kiser’s piece], I thought it was amazing that women got to wear whatever they wanted whenever they wanted because it’s their body.
Honestly, I don’t think there’s anything wrong about wearing comfortable clothing, and I also don’t believe that a woman should have to choose between what Kiser thinks is appropriate and what she thinks is not. Overall, I don’t believe that her, or anybody else, should have a say in what another person is wearing.
Finally, I understand what Kiser means when she says that she was taught that to be successful, one must look successful, particularly considering that I have heard this before. However, I am a firm believer that in order to be successful, one must feel successful; if I feel good wearing a crop top and sweatpants - which is most of the time - then I know that I’m going to succeed in whatever I have to do that day. Granted, if I have a job interview, I’m not going to wear leggings or sweatpants [especially, if there’s a dress code that I must follow].
But, I am not going to “try harder” and wear jeans instead of running shorts, I am not going to wear my leggings exclusively for the gym and I am not going to stop wearing what makes me feel confident just because someone thinks it’s wrong. So ladies - and any other person- I encourage you to wear whatever you want because your clothing absolutely does not determine how valid you are. So, go ahead, wear those leggings and that baggy shirt, not because I’m telling you to, but because you set the rules to your own body.
