Confession time. I have a very vivid imagination and a tendency to day dream. Which I believe heavily contributes to this costuming habit of mine.
When I was growing up I would get dressed in the morning according to who I wanted to be perceived as that day. Especially during those awkward teenage years when I felt my identity was still in flux. It’s easy to define yourself to others by the clothes you wear when your identity is still shifting and forming.
To be honest, a part of me still does that.
Important meeting? You better believe I’m dressing the part of successful business woman. Social gathering? I’m trying to be a trendy cool girl.
I remember having vivid thoughts while getting dressed in the morning about what part of my personality I wanted to express on any given day. A thought process I imagine is very similar to that of a costume designer choosing an outfit for a well-developed character.
In the most recent issue of Abilene Scene, we take a look at costume and set design stylistics through ACU’s Department of Theatre.
“Fashion design does make valuable cultural comment, as well as historical reference, but it is ultimately a for-profit business,” says Sandy Freeman, theatre professor and costume designer at ACU. Costume design, on the other hand, “is concerned with storytelling.”
Don’t we all tell stories every day? The story of us? Deep thoughts for a weekday. Feel free to join me.
So much nonverbal communication is wrapped up in the clothes you wear. What story do you tell with your aesthetic? What stories are the people around you telling?
I think that this is one of the reasons I love to still participate in Halloween festivities. It’s an opportunity to engage imagination and be a part of a different story for a day! This year, we are Burt Macklin and Janet Snakehole from Parks and Rec. A: Because Parks and Rec is a favorite TV show of ours. B: Because Andy and April are #RelationshipGoals.
What do you plan on being for Halloween?
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@bajaelsol & @AbileneScene
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