I was wondering just now as I have wondered many times before, what are people thinking when they look in the mirror before they leave the house? I'm not talking about fashion choices here or a personal fashion police investigation on my part. I just mean, what do people think of themselves in that instant that they're ready to go and take that last glance in the mirror? I see people in the street dressed to the nines in the latest fashions and I can't help but wonder, do they think to themselves... "Damn, I look good!"
I don't think they look good. To me such people look like they're trying too hard to look wealthy or cute and are not aware of what really matters in life. Clothes and accessories just don't matter. Especially when others have so little, I think those that have an excess should back off and not show off their goods so much. It used to bother me to see such rampant displays of materialism, but now, I feel a little sad--disappointed really. Can't they see that their outside appearance really isn't as important as the spirit on the inside?
I don't have a full length mirror. I have little compacts that I use to fix up in the morning. I've only looked in a big mirror a handful of times in the last several months. I don't really know what I look like and I don't care. I'm struggling to see why it is that others seem to care so much. I remember what it was like in high school to want to dress to impress, but doesn't that idea go away when we grow up? I feel like it mostly went away for me.
So, as I'm riding around in a taxi from time to time, I wonder about the thousands of people I see on the way home. I feel sorry for them that they have come to feel the need to dress up on the outside. I wonder what they're hiding or what they're afraid of. Maybe they just don't know what to do with their extra money or they're caught up in rising up the social ranks. I don't know since I'm so blinded by the image they are presenting on the outside. I'd have to talk with them to see what substance is on the inside.
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I find myself wondering the same thing. Clothes DO NOT make the person. It seems like a shield to keep real human contact and communication out.
-Sonja :)
"Democracy works only when you vote. When you don't take the time to vote for the candidate you find the least offensive, you run the risk of electing the candidate you find the most offensive."
All praises to God Who perfected my make and balanced it and fashioned my face excellently and made me submissive ( to Him). ..... ( A prayer of holy Prophet of Islam )
I think the reason so many people are completely wrapped in their looks is because the first impression is the strongest one. Ideally we should live in a society where people aren't judged on the way that they look, but until then, you cannot deny the fact that a large majority of people get their first impression of someone based on the way that they look.
Imagine for example going into an interview for a job in sweatpants, a stained t-shirt, and ripped up shoes. Unless you're incredibly smart or unbelievably persuasive, you're probably not going to get the job over someone who comes in a suit and tie. The way that we present ourselves in public is our first chance to show others what is on the inside.
On that note, I personally try not to focus too much on my looks. I have long(er) hair than some, but I only fix it up once in the morning - unless I'm going to the gym or something- and I don't carry a brush with me. I think about my appearance in the morning when I'm getting ready for the day and then usually forget about it after that. I absolutely agree that there are too many people who take it to extreme lengths. But I also think that there are some people who don't spend quite enough time thinking about the internal image that they are presenting on the outside for that day. Its a tricky balance to figure out.
First impressions can have a lasting affect with some, and for some, physical appearance is the judgment basis of the impression. From the blog, I thought she was thinking more about money spent on appearance- clothes, shoes, accessories- and the priorities that people make appearance.
Some people seem to spend hours in the mirror on a daily basis, no matter what their plans are. I think that's the issue. Under certain circumstances, it is important to "dress for success." For the most part, I think too many people are superficial.
-Sonja :)
"Democracy works only when you vote. When you don't take the time to vote for the candidate you find the least offensive, you run the risk of electing the candidate you find the most offensive."
I love it when someone expresses better what I was getting at. This is what I was getting at. (Thanks Sonja!) I don't deny that the power of first impression is there or the way people should prevent themselves in an interview situation. But is everyday an interview? For some, sure, they have meetings everyday, so they dress up. I'm not saying that there's anything bad about looking professional. I'm talking about the average joes trying to look like CEOs and movie stars to their own detriment. Focusing too much on the outside draws your attention away from your inside. I think it's a main reason why people struggle to find themselves. They're blinded by what they see on the outside.
www.progressiveu.org/blog/americangirlinchina
pretty much agree with what you are saying.
But then again I do sometimes care about what i look like and i just like to attempt tp look cute just because it makes me feel confident. Which i pretty much never do because im so insecure, but then again I am not rich and I don't want anyone to think that i am. I don't try to go out of my way to impress people though.
thatgirl2089
Even being in high school, I don't feel the need to constantly "dress to impress." For me, dressing up is earing a matching outfit that fits me well and isn't stained up by my numerous adventures of daily life. I have a few skirts and one or two nice, solid-colored shirts for special occasions. But other than that, I have clothing that is functional and won't wear out or be ruined. What's the point of even owning really nice clothes that are the latest fashion if they won't last through three wearings?
I feel that my clothing says more to the world about who I am than the "fashions" say about those who wear them. My wardrobe says that I am someone who's not afraid to get down and dirty, and who is willing to take life by the horns. I'm not afraid to be myself, and I don't feel the need to conform to society. And most of all, I'm happy that way. The clothes don't make the person...but they should reflect the person who wears them.
And that's comin' at ya' from yer local redneck hippie.
--
The Story of Myself
I look at myself in the mirror in order to make myself feel good. If I think I look good, then I'll walk around with confidence all day, and my mood will be a little brighter. I don't necessarily go out of my way to look nice, but like right now I'm wearing black jeans, a blue blouse, and a pretty blue necklace, plus my standard 'peace' ring on my right thumb. My hair is a little wavy because I waited a little while before I brushed it when I got out of the shower this morning. I look nice, and so I feel nice.
Why can't clothes be used to represent who we are inside? I mean, I'm pretty conservative and mostly innocent, and so I wear pretty conservative clothes. I own a single skirt that falls above my knees, and I don't think I own any shirts that dip low enough to show much cleavage. I wear glasses, which I think makes me look smart, and the jewelry I wear makes me feel good.
As someone who struggled for years with self-esteem issues (until my last year in high school, I would wear a jacket all the time in an effort to hide my body), I'm quite proud of being able to look in the mirror and recognize that I'm pretty, and I feel better when I go out in public now.
~C
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Both you and Kinkatia have touched on this now. Our clothes should reflect who we are on the inside. Should is the operative word. With my blog, I'm focusing on the darker side. I'm talking about the discord I sense when I look at some people. Not everyone's inside can reflect the same high fashion look.
Also, I'm realizing that this is a rather priviledged conversation. Many people around the world just wear whatever they can make or get ahold of. I'm talking about a small slice of the population that is too caught up in how they look.
www.progressiveu.org/blog/americangirlinchina
I blame Sex and the City for the dramatic influx in the past 10 (?) years of young women's "need" for highly overpriced designer fashions, accessories, and shoes. I used to hear about young women going into bankruptcy trying to catch up with the latest trends. It's so sad and disturbing. Kind of disgusting too. It seems like such a waste.
-Sonja :)
"Democracy works only when you vote. When you don't take the time to vote for the candidate you find the least offensive, you run the risk of electing the candidate you find the most offensive."
I've never gotten the shoe thing. Paying $200.00 for a pair of shoes seems insane to me. I love arty and beautiful things, but when the fashion brand rules the pocketbook and self image it's gone too far.
My Blog: www.progressiveu.org/blog/jlepp-journey
Absolutely insane, I agree. I can't stand to spend more than 20 dollars on shoes, myself...and often, the cheaper they are, the longer they'll hold up to my abuse.
And that's comin' at ya' from yer local redneck hippie.
--
The Story of Myself
I agree. People get so caught up in the image in the mirror, they fail to look deeper. I like the days when I can look in the mirror and be, "Hey that's pretty good :)."
My Blog: www.progressiveu.org/blog/jlepp-journey