In elementary school, I wore dresses regardless of whether it was sunny outside.
On a windy winter morning, when I was about 6, my worried mom refused to let me stay outside with only a dress on.
“Your lips are turning blue, Zugay,” Mom said.
“But princesses don’t wear pants,” I replied.
I loved the Disney princesses way too much as a child and wind wouldn’t stop me from wearing dresses.
“Jasmine does,” she said.
I’d never considered that. Her words blew my mind. Eventually, I grew out of my princess phase. I realized females don’t necessarily need dresses to look or feel like a princess.
Since then, my style changes often. Depending on the day, I love wearing all-black outfits Wednesday Addams would approve. I also love makeup and wearing pink everything, à la Regina George, “On Wednesdays, we wear pink.”
My style, and others’ style, has been shaped through others’ comments.
Most people have a strong opinion on makeup and dresses. Although seemingly trivial, appearance raises many questions, including whether it’s antifeminist to wear dresses or why women should wear makeup when most men don’t.
Over time, I concluded it doesn’t matter what I wear if it’s appropriate for the occasion.
If you wear makeup, you might face judgment for wearing too much, looking high-maintenance, or applying it in a specific style. If you don’t, it might be seen as being lazy. Wear a dress and you might be too girly, as if being a female is bad. Don’t wear them, and you might be tomboyish, as if being a male is bad.
I have been told all those comments for dressing up too much or not enough. I wish I had a dollar for every time I was asked why I’m “so dressed up” for a casual outing. I’d finally be able to buy my dream Gucci purse. I stopped wearing makeup and dresses for a while because of it. Eventually, I learned it doesn’t, and shouldn’t, matter whether you choose to wear makeup or dresses.
You can’t win with everyone. So, stay authentic and do what makes you happiest. For others and me, makeup is a way to highlight your best features, pun intended. Dresses can be comfortable since they aren’t tight like pants, easier to wear in the morning, and they give you that princess-like feeling when you twirl.
Still, you don’t need any of that, especially if you’re tired, don’t care for it, or makeup irritates your skin. Sleeping in 30 minutes extra instead of dressing up shouldn’t be a worry. Jasmine didn’t need dresses, and neither does anyone, to look great.
If we are to live in a society where everyone is equal, how we look shouldn’t matter. We need to value appearances less when meeting new people and at work. It’s only when someone hides insecurities behind layers of makeup that it’s a problem.
