“My interest in Historical Dance and Early Music brought me to intensive research of life in former centuries, especially the Renaissance and Baroque eras of the 17th and 18th century. To get an idea for my stage costumes I dived deep into the fashion back then.”
Nowadays it is hard to imagine that there were no clothes shops with ready-to-wear clothes in just a handful of sizes. Every piece of the wardrobe was hand-sewn, and custom made. One would choose a fabric, a colour, a pattern, and the tailor would make a unique dress to the body perfectly.
A tailor-made dress gives the wearer a different feeling, pleasure and authenticity. In former times also the outfit showed one’s place in society. For example, it was forbidden for maids to wear panniers, the wide hoops that were so popular at the French court in Versailles.
Oscar Wilde said: The only man I know who behaves sensibly is my tailor. He takes my measurements anew each time he sees me. The rest go on with their old measurements and expect me to fit them.
What would you wear, if you could choose freely? Are your clothes expressing your individuality? Does your body feel comfortable when you get dressed? Are your clothes functional, and protect you from wind, cold or sun? Can you move well in your clothes? Are they in your favourite colours, and your favourite material? If not, do you want to change it?
What would happen, if we did not compare ourselves to others? If we embraced our look, body, voice, exactly as it is? Why is there a standard, which we think is worth following? Is it fear that keeps us from expressing our true self? Or is it just standardised taste, fed by magazines, fashion and society, that we could question more?
We are all individuals. Our bodies are different, our thoughts, wishes, dreams are different. That is the reason for the huge variety of brands, sports, books, music genres, dance styles, movies, food, and drink. Life is so colourful, so bright and wide, how can we allow ourselves to accept our bodies to be different, and find beauty in our uniqueness?
How would life look if we all enjoyed our uniqueness, and supported and respected other beings in their uniqueness? Would there be more love, especially more self-love? I hope we all are going to embrace each other’s self-expression. The pandemic shows us how valuable human contact is. Let’s focus on love and understanding!
Cécile Blumenbär.
Beauty. Lifestyle. Women’s Empowerment.
Aloha from hawaii…. Nice to see you publishing online. I wasn’t aware before that you were doing this. I like your angle on clothing. Although I would add one thing. To consider whether you even need any clothing sometimes. Certainly when out and about you need to stay protected from the elements, which include local laws and those officiating them, i e the cops. Beyond that comfort over beauty, sensibility over fashion and by all means be comfortable in your body as well as in your clothes.
Aloha from Germany, and thanks Kuteer! This project started in autumn last year. “Clothes and authenticity” is my third article. I like your point of view! A few days ago, I delivered my next article, where I questioned wearing clothes at all. I m looking forward to your comment!