Fashion as aCoping Mechanism “Through every knit, through every choice and decision, we have the power to express our personality through our clothing. What was once a bird with tied wings, can be released and set ready to fly through the expression of fashion. This is how I broke out, to fly on my own.”
Emily Schutz photographed by Editorial Photographer, Taylor Mair
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As time passed and I was in college, I cut my hair and got bangs. With each change in my appearance, I got closer to who I was. I was regaining control of my body again and gaining my self-confidence back. It was similar to creating a customized character, except the character was me and I am real. My story is not an uncommon one and after suffering through a highly distressing event, I know that fashion can provide people with a voice. It tells others who you are, but more importantly, it can tell yourself who you are. I sat down with three FSU students to discuss their experiences with using fashion to reclaim their identities after trauma. Bailey Taylor was in middle school when her sister was sexually assaulted by three family friends. Not only that, but Taylor was unknowingly drugged and had to deal with the psychological aftermath of that experience. Her friends ignored her and she had felt entirely alone. In order to, “find her entrance into the world,” Taylor dyed her hair bold colors and experimented with makeup. Her initial goal was, “to feel closer to herself by portraying her style to the world,” and that she did. She posted tutorials on youtube and eventually gained tens of thousands of followers. Not only did people at school know who she was, but so did thousands of others from around the world. This is only one instance of someone who fought back through the power of expression. Many use fashion to fight back in instances in which others attempt to control them. This was the case for Elizabeth Ranno, who was made fun
