Look Who's Actually Wearing It!

Have you ever seen the magazine feature titled, “Who Wore It Better?” I am assuming you have. I never liked that editorial piece- the one where two women wearing the same outfit are pinned side by side, sometimes with a split-screen feature, while self-proclaimed fashion experts or style gurus weigh in on who won this unofficial fashion contest. The two contestants are always unknowingly entered once their photo is taken and don’t have the option to opt out of the style competition. Enter, us (the reader), who instantly becomes an unsolicited panelist deciding who wore the same outfit better.  It leads us to pause on the page and make a judgement that we would normally never have made if the question and images weren’t thrust in front of our faces in a compare and contrast format. Thankfully, I don’t see that feature as much anymore but I am sure it’s because it’s not in my algorithm not because it isn’t still a “thing”.

So, there we are. On our couch, at the salon, commuting on the train- and we subjectively look at the pictures of these women. First, we look at the accessories, the shoes, the handbag. Next, we’re on to the figure, the hair, the pose…. Finally, a decision is made as to “who wore it better”. I mean, come on. Is this fair? No. But do people tend to do this on autopilot? Well, yes. Let’s take a minute to think about the feature’s question and turn it on its carbon-copied head.

Doesn’t the person who is wearing the outfit play into your decision just a tad? I mean, if your favorite celebrity, or influencer was donning an ensemble found to be worn by someone else, you may be a bit partial to the unofficial “winner”, no? Of course you would. Same with people in our own lives. But unless you have access to a closet of haute couture clothing, which I am assuming you don’t (hey, a girl can dream), someone else is wearing the same garments that you also have hanging in your closet.

Now, the reality is that anyone can wear an outfit better than someone else. Big deal. If you ask me, the feature should really be called, “Look Who’s Actually Wearing It!” That’s right. The point is that they ARE WEARING IT! They are dressing up and showing up! You don’t need to be featured in a magazine to get up, get dressed, and declare, “Look, I’m wearing it!” because proclaiming the new title “Look Who’s Actually Wearing It!” could be the catalyst for a whole slew of new personal declarations, such as “Look who showed up for herself today!” and “Look who isn’t saving it for a special occasion!” or "Look who's living her life on purpose!". And guess what, if someone else is wearing the same outfit (whether in a magazine or in your real life), chances are, you’ll probably want to high five that gal. Because great minds think alike. She’s showing up for herself too. And her dreams. And her day. And it doesn’t matter one bit who actually wore it better. The outfit simply becomes a physical reminder (for you and her) that you decided to show up for yourself in a way that says “Something great will happen today and I am ready for it.” I’ve heard it explained as dressing for your “best case scenario”. And it works. Yes, even on a random Tuesday.

Also, if you’ve ever seen someone wear something and thought “I could never pull that off”, the reality is that you’ve already decided who wore it better. But, it has less to do with what that woman is wearing and more to do with her perceived confidence to put it on and actually wear it. So, guess what? If you wear something similar this week, then YOU wore it better. But wore it better than who? You, my stylish friend, wore it better than the old you. The old you that didn’t think she could pull it off. The old you who didn’t believe she had the confidence to sport it. The NEW YOU won because she is dressing for the woman she is becoming. Not the old you that holds on to old beliefs and self-doubts. Yes, the new you definitely wore it better.

So, back to the editorial feature and the question “Who wore it better?”. I am wondering who even cares? The point is that they wore it. They decided to show up for themselves. And when you enter your own contest, then all of a sudden, the outfit you are wearing (that may be the same as another woman’s), somehow looks completely different. Even when pinned side by side. Why? Because you are dressing for YOUR life. YOUR dreams, YOUR goals, YOUR personality. And they are dressing for theirs. The clothes you wear become the outward expression of the internal woman you are becoming. Time to stop comparing and celebrate all the winners. And make the choice to build up and support other women trying to do the same.