Mindful Living: Clothes Make the Woman

“I ONLY wear comfortable clothes!” my friend says, gazing at me with one eyebrow arched. I know what she’s thinking, that my suits have sold me out.

She says that jeans and sweats and fleece are the only comfortable clothing, and anything else must be uncomfortable by definition, a pretty narrow viewpoint if you ask me. My clothes are feathery soft, catching the smallest breeze. Never itchy. Never tight. Yes, there are disadvantages. More money spent on dry cleaning; more time steaming out the wrinkles. Is this real discomfort or just a few handholds on the climbing wall of artistic expression? Unlike the art on your wall which is seen only by a few, clothing art is for everybody.

But it isn’t just art. Power suits make me powerful. I learned this the hard way one autumn morning when I ventured out in sweatpants. There, leaning on the mailbox stood the man of my dreams. The sweatpants failed me. Courage failed me. I looked like a bag lady and I knew it. He knew it. He’s the one that got away.

Wouldn’t it be nice if people judged us by our deeper selves? Nice maybe, but practically impossible. Without saying a word, my clothes reveal my background, my confidence, my courage. It may not be right, but that’s how it is. Why not take advantage of that knowledge?

The other day I saw a news piece about women who strut around in those five inch spiked heels, suffering pain and disfigured feet. Sure, I think they’re crazy, but those women said that they felt confident and sexy when they dressed that way. That’s emotional comfort. If it makes that much difference in their lives that it’s worth the distorted toes, then more power to them. We all make choices that create pain and discomfort in our lives. At least those women are making their decision with the facts at hand (or at foot if you will).

In a royal blue power suit I can face down the mail carrier or the governor. In a buttery brown suede jacket I can smile at any man leaning on a mailbox nearby. In a plum velvet gown I can flirt with a tiger, and maybe even reply archly, “I ONLY wear comfortable clothes.”

Copyright May, 1999