I love Meryl Streep. But, no, really I love Meryl Streep. She’s so classy. She’s aged well, and her style has aged with her.
But even more than I love Ms. Streep, I love her film “The Devil Wears Prada,” where she plays the threatening Miranda Priestly, editor of the top fashion magazine in America. While this film portrays the world of fashion as rather cutthroat and unforgivable, it does raise some really good points about how important fashion is.
For instance, Nigel, played by the talented Stanley Tucci, says, “Halston, Lagerfeld, de la Renta. And what they did, what they created, was greater than art, because you live your life in it.” This quote has always stuck with me.
To most, fashion is a privileged vanity. Some people just don’t have the time or the motivation to develop their own sense of style. But, to me, fashion has become something of an art. It’s more than a piece of fabric that hangs on your body. It’s a nonverbal message.
Whether you’re buying something off a clearance rack or dishing out $200 for a nice coat, your sense of style says a lot about you and how much you care about the way you look. Think about it. If you see someone wearing something beyond unflattering with colors that clash, you’re not going to be drawn to them.
What you don’t know about me is that, several years ago, my style was like a week of sunshine in Ohio, nonexistent. As my self-esteem grew and I stopped caring so much about what people thought about me, my style began to surface. It’s been a great freedom for me.
Perhaps that’s contradictory: care about what other people think, but don’t care about what other people think. What I’m saying is this: fashion is an art that sends messages to the people around you. Be who you are, dress how you feel, but don’t ever let the way you dress short-suit your opportunities in life.
Unfortunately, we live in a world where judgments are made about the way we look. The person who looks more put-together gets the job, in most cases. Fashion can be a new weapon in your arsenal. You can use it to your advantage to get you places in the world. With all arts, it’s something you have to learn. My advice? Watch “What Not to Wear” on TLC as much as possible. It’s a great way to learn about body type and is useful for helping to build one’s sense of style.
Fashion is an art you can learn and enjoy. Most importantly, it makes you feel more confident. And, in a world like ours, we can all use a bit more self-assurance.
Until next time, stay classy. Stay stylish. This is Josh Newman, signing off.