Understatement is overrated when it comes to getting dressed. This is a controversial opinion – an unfashionable one even – in the year of quiet luxury. But before you reach for yet another white T-shirt, hear me out.
Clothes are an opportunity to let people know who you are. Why waste that opportunity? Most of modern life seems to be everyone shouting over each other and no one listening to what anyone else has to say, but every time you get dressed, you get to introduce yourself to the world, on your own terms, without having to interrupt anyone. Your outfit says hello even before you say a word.
I get it, the appeal of understated clothes. Of course I do. Timeless classics, in neutral colours, are a useful fallback when you are just looking to fit in and be accepted. A little black dress at a party, simple tailoring at the office, a pastel dress at a wedding: these are all safe, effective strategies when all you are aiming for is not to look like a fish out of water.
But there are lots of times where we can aim a tad higher, on the first-impression stakes, than to reassure people that we are allowed in the room/won’t frighten the horses/are a safe pair of hands. What I mean is that “she looks as if she’s probably fine” sets an unnecessarily low bar for social interaction. What would you like people to think, when they see you? Take the initiative. Maybe you’d like them to think you look interesting. Maybe you’d like them to think you look sophisticated, or fun, or powerful, or sexy. What you wear can do all of those things.
