I recall a Saturday in 2007; a friend (who was also my colleague) and I decided to accompany each other to our individual planned activity. I was to go shop for groceries at The Palms and he was going to attend a friend’s birthday party at one of the beaches. To shop groceries was the last thing on his mind and to go for an unknown beach party was also the last thing on my mind that weekend, but hey, that’s what friends do some time, we reluctantly accompanied each other.
We drove to the beach by 4pm after my shopping. We were quite early but the celebrant and about 5 others were there already. As the only lady present at that time, each of them took turns to say hi and have small talks with me.
Each and all of them where all in baggy jeans, big blink-blink chains with or without glitters, and their oversize T-shirts or singlet tops where tucked at the front to reveal their large belt buckle (it was a big trend that year). They all had large tattoos on their body and jewelry on their pierced ears.
As they spoke to me, some were uncomfortable, as if something wasn’t just right. My friend came back and we continued talking, he joked they were his old friends and he was accustomed to hang out with them and was an unserious person like them (he’s words in italic) before he got a job and his work has kept him away from them, that’s why you can see me all responsible now he said laughing.
By now more people had arrived so my friend had to go say hello to more friends and my earlier acquaintances were back, this time around with more to say and more comfortable with themselves; They had questions and topics for me, one in particular had a radio program and was almost upset about me not knowing about him or he’s program. At a point I had to excuse myself, looked for my friend and pulled him back to stay with me.
At that point I began to ask myself what changed with those guys. So I began to look around again, all the crowd and guest, I was the only one dressed different, just a pair of boot cut jeans and a top with my sandals in my hands, I then noticed my friend was dressed like them, but in a more casual and relaxed way. I knew he had a pierced ear but never wore jewelry because of work he says; he was wearing a T-shirt, a ¾ pair of trousers and a pair of flip flops. The female guest where dressed like wise but in women clothing of course, many had tattoos too and more accessories than the guys. I noticed my acquaintance where high on marijuana when they came back the second time.
I said to myself, is this a gang party? Nah! These guys seem nice beneath all the façade, besides I won’t be invited if it was one.
Was there a dress code? Nah! My friend would have told me.
Is this peer pressure? More like it, some guest looked good and glamorous, while others looked confused and uncomfortable. They were right to look and feel that way because they had dressed in a way contrary to who they are or how they feel.
Now they might be aware or as in most cases not aware that the way you dress carries moods or spirits that reflects who you are both inside and outside. What you might not also be aware of is that if you dress your outside contrary to your inner self, the spirits in your clothes most time take control of you. How you dress has the tendency to enhance or change your mood completely, it encourages you to act in a certain way, in line with the theme you have chosen to clothe yourself.
You find people dress like aristocrats or rock stars and are forced to speak and behave in certain ways that requires their effort, which makes them uncomfortable and unnatural. It might be the same reason my acquaintances had to take marijuana to get high and fit into character, why you see people are sometime forced to talk, walk and act in certain manner without even being aware of it.
But bear in mind that if you find the clothing that reflects your spirit, you need no marijuana or anything to get you high. You will be high on yourself, and if dress contrary you’ll be gloomy and wish no one you know sees you.
On our way back from the party I asked my friend to show me he’s tattoo, he went all defensive but laughing “who told me he had a tattoo”, long story short, he had on his left shoulder… it turned out to be a memorable weekend for us.
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