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What Not to Wear
By Mary Dance ’07
STAFF WRITER

After jumping at the opportunity to author a “what not to wear” column, I started to wonder how exactly the readership of The Voice would react. Watching the community respond to the presence of Miss Manners (“a further contribution to a finishing school reputation?”) and knowing what my own feelings on this column would have been several years ago, I use this first opportunity in hopes to prevent unnecessary controversy or offense.

I used to believe that caring about clothes made you shallow and less intelligent. I spent middle school and high school inundated with work and managing the concerns of others, leaving little time for anything else.

Following my graduation, I learned what it meant to care for myself. I slept, made time for my own fun, and learned that, well, maybe it was okay to care about myself and my life as more than just a student. A logical extension of this became caring about how I presented myself and, thus, I began to care about clothes.

Clothing undoubtedly affects the way that people perceive you. Maybe it should and maybe it should not, but frankly, that matters little because it does. I have often heard sloppily dressed individuals claim that one's attire should not affect perceptions, but I have never seen these people attempt to do anything about it. If you'd like to start a crusade for a blind and inner-beauty appreciating society, please do, but your quiet protest of ill-fitting clothing is not likely to change the world.

For many, clothing also affects the way you see yourself. I know that getting dressed in clothes I like and that flatter my body gives me a boost of confidence, making me feel better prepared for the day. If you don't need the extra help, more power to you, but I think we all can use it from time to time.

I hope you will view this column as a compilation of suggestions. It is meant neither to be mean, shallow, nor offensive. Any comments or ideas presented here will never be aimed at one individual, so please, do not imagine that anyone is being targeted. These things in mind, I leave you with two short tips for an even better start to the school year.

1. Cover yourself, please. I will elaborate on this in the next issue, but let me touch on it while it is still 95 degrees outside. Please wear enough clothing. No one wishes to see your stomach or more personal regions while eating meals or going to class.

2. Get dressed in the morning. It's a great thing to do and a positive way to start your school year. I know that we, as Sweet Briar students, often revel in the ability to wear pajamas to class, but here's my theory: Every evening, my professors spend much time preparing their lessons. They often go to sleep late, get up early, and yet they still bathe and dress to teach me. Thus, I will bathe and dress to learn from them as often as possible.

So keep these in mind as you start the new year! Hope you'll continue reading!