The Power of Body Armor
The Power of Body Armor by Jessie Flake.
Alexander Mcqueen once said that he designed clothing to scare men. Inspired by his mother’s plight with domestic abuse, he wanted to ensure that any man who dared to raise a hand to a woman, would be too terrified to do so because of the striking beauty of her ensemble.
It might seem ridiculous when examined through an analytic lens that a couture gown can stop a violent man in his tracks. However, there are some truths that you can use clothes not as a physical body armor but as mental armor.
A 2012 study on enclothed cognition, demonstrates the effects clothing had on study participants. Enclothed cognition refers to the systematic influence that clothing has on the wearer’s psychological processes. Participants given a plain lab coat saw an increase in their attentiveness as opposed to their counterparts who were not given lab coats.
For decades my mother-in-law never left the home without a pair of earrings. She even goes as far as keeping an extra pair in her car for mornings she oversleeps and forgets. If she sometimes forgets about the car earring too, she will ask her besties at work if they have an extra pair or drive home for lunch. Family members often chalk it up to being a part of that older generation that follows unwritten rules of public presentability. However, these snap conclusions often result in us forgetting the power those earrings give. In a way, earrings are a way for her to feel put together, confident and comfortable.
I also discovered this secret to body armor by the time I was 19. Being a fledgling in the Air Force at the time, I didn’t put much effort in my body armor going to class. I simply made sure my appearance was within regulations. The uniform helped me feel comfortable in my skin and confident in my tasks because I didn’t have to think about what I would wear. However outside class and other mandatory military obligations, my confidence was fleeting at best.
In the beginning it was because 98% of my wardrobe existed in my parents' home over a thousand miles away. This wardrobe was also not reflective of my authentic self, but instead reflective of my parents' taste, economic status and only a tiny bit of my own discretion. Knowing this I took note of what I needed and formulated a plan to find the clothing and accessories I need while also taking into consideration what styles those items came in.
I started out with keeping my wardrobe pretty neutral to maximize wear with a handful of pieces that stood out. Then boom, the version of my former self evolved overnight to a young woman who felt comfortable in her body for the first time. I wore black leather heeled boots all year round in Texas (yes even in the summer!) during times I needed to feel in control of my life. The oversized men's aviators came out when I needed to place a barrier between myself and the outside world. A sapphire blue lace summer dress made its appearance when I needed to love myself more. They might not have been a bullet proof vest or chain mail, but it was the best armor I had in my arsenal. The way we present ourselves to the public can serve as a way to also protect ourselves mentally and emotionally. The confidence and comfort your ensemble provide can ease anxiety and boost self-esteem. It doesn’t take much to achieve this. Start small like my mother-in-law and never leave the house without earrings. Or take the plunge and buy that summer dress. Use what you wear to feel your authentic self and by proxy, your absolute best.