As a lover of fashion, I never even considered downplaying my affection for getting dressed. It’s honestly my favorite part of the day. Although, it often starts the night before. I check the weather forecast the night before and think about my schedule for the upcoming day. Then, I consider my mood and who I want to be that day. It’s almost as if I’m playing a character. Sometimes I want to be a 1950’s Rockabilly girl. Other times I want to be a 1960’s socialite vacationing in Italy. I use my style to convey the many facets of my personality. It honestly never occurred to me that I should hide my enthusiasm for fashion. But, that’s exactly what Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie felt she had to do in order to be taken seriously as a writer.
In an Elle article, Chimamanda talks about how she finally let go of her fear of not being taken seriously and decided to wear the clothes that she wanted to wear. We, as women, are often so focused on being taken seriously that we try to fit into whatever prescribed mold is available to us. I think it’s about time we stop letting other people’s perception of how we should dress or act influence who we are. My work should be able to stand on its own. Meanwhile, I’ll be standing in my peep toe pumps and pencil skirt.
Read the entire Elle article here.
*photo credit Elle.com
Mildred Lee Productions 