As graduates prepare themselves to walk across the stage, collecting their diplomas after 12 years of schooling, they are also preparing to show off their sense of style in the formal attire department.
This past week, I had the opportunity to take my oldest son suit shopping. Although he is not graduating this year, he has been asked to be an escort. And because I am a momma on a budget, he was pretty understanding when I told him if I am buying a suit, it will be for his graduation as well.
Before we even stepped into a store, I had inquired about renting a suit. When I heard it costs just as much to rent as it does to purchase, I wanted to get more bang for my buck. (Plus, he could get a couple more years out of it after graduation!) I told him to start thinking about what colours he would like and search for different suit styles. I wanted him to get an idea of what he liked and didn’t like before we went anywhere.
So, we finally found a day to make a run into the city to try on some suits. We had my son’s girlfriend in tow, as it is her graduation he will be wearing the suit to, and I have to admit I was glad she tagged along. She was able to help determine what colours would look good next to her dress and she was the only reason he would smile in any of the pictures we took.
As someone who understands how a garment is made and what colours would look good on him, I had already an idea of what we were walking into. Watching his body language change between the different colours he tried on was an interesting sight. Even the varying shades of grey suits altered the colour of his face.
I love how fashion can be a representation of who we are. When we are in a playful mood, we tend to wear more flashy, upbeat colours and patterns. If we feel down or tired, we gravitate towards the darker hues in the closet.
Now not everyone has the same sense of fashion. I follow a Canadian maximalist, Sara Camposarcone, on TikTok. She not only purchases designer pieces for her collection, she also spends her time in thrift shops, vintage boutiques and flea markets, finding odd and peculiar fashion. She is well-known for her lettuce earrings, her bright green Hulk feet shoes, doll head rings and wild-styled glasses.
Now at first, I was not keen on her style choices. She would mix colours, patterns and shapes, usually coming out like a toddler who was playing dress up in mommy’s closet. But as I continued to watch, who was I to judge what she felt comfortable in?
As a plus-sized woman, I struggled to feel secure enough in my body, let alone my clothes. While married, my closet consisted of dark clothes, mostly black. Much like society taught me to believe, along with my ex-husband, black was slimming and I tried to cover my lumps and bumps with oversized tops. My clothes were to conceal what I had and not how I wanted to convey myself.
I have seen some pretty wild styles and I only have one thing to say to them — good for you! You have the courage to showcase who you are and you are not afraid to be different. Especially to those younger adults and teens, you know who you are, even if it just for a few years. It has taken me most of my life to feel comfortable in what I wear, so for you to go all out, I admire it. And if you are thinking, “Azure, you must be crazy!”, I’m not. Our clothing is just an extension of who we are.
