Chapter 6: The Ideal Body
Major confession time.
I've struggled with my body image for quite a while now. Body image distortion is something that very much happens to both men and women of all ages, and it's no joke. It takes a pretty hefty toll on one's mental and physical health, and frankly, it's exhausting. Experiencing body anxiety, worrying about how I look in the mirror, how skinny I am every morning, internally yelling at myself for eating too much.
Yeah, it's pretty bad.
I've slowly been working through this unhealthy mental state though, with the much needed help of friends and loved ones. All of this has been perpetuated by a number of factors.
Seeing advertisements and marketing material that utilize an "ideal of beauty" on an everyday basis can't be healthy for somebody going through any sort of body image distortion. Shirtless Abercrombie models, Kate Moss in her prime (who am I kidding, she'll always be in her prime), and any other supermodel/exemplars of the human form are paraded around, lauded as an ideal everybody should strive for.
It's unrealistic, and it can create an itch to profoundly change the way you look.
Okay, onto less dark topics.
The other term that stuck with me after reading through this chapter was the theory of Enclothed Cognition, something that I identify with heavily. As I've mentioned in previous blog posts, I am an avid and addicted shopper, as well as a "fashion enthusiast", for lack of a better term (I don't think I want to call myself a fashionista). “States of the body modify states of the mind,” and clothing for me is just an extension of my body (my extended self, if you will). Wearing clothing that elevates and compliments my body type, creates interesting silhouettes, or just catches people's eyes is one of my favorite things to do. Styling myself is a form of physical, self-marketing. The clothing we wear is often the first, and sometimes only, impression we leave on people. When you pass somebody on the street, your crazy/cool outfit might just be the thing they think about for the next few minutes.
Leaving impressions on others through what we wear is something I've always been interested in studying more, and I hope to work in fashion marketing after school!
I've struggled with my body image for quite a while now. Body image distortion is something that very much happens to both men and women of all ages, and it's no joke. It takes a pretty hefty toll on one's mental and physical health, and frankly, it's exhausting. Experiencing body anxiety, worrying about how I look in the mirror, how skinny I am every morning, internally yelling at myself for eating too much.
Yeah, it's pretty bad.
I've slowly been working through this unhealthy mental state though, with the much needed help of friends and loved ones. All of this has been perpetuated by a number of factors.
Seeing advertisements and marketing material that utilize an "ideal of beauty" on an everyday basis can't be healthy for somebody going through any sort of body image distortion. Shirtless Abercrombie models, Kate Moss in her prime (who am I kidding, she'll always be in her prime), and any other supermodel/exemplars of the human form are paraded around, lauded as an ideal everybody should strive for.
It's unrealistic, and it can create an itch to profoundly change the way you look.
Okay, onto less dark topics.
The other term that stuck with me after reading through this chapter was the theory of Enclothed Cognition, something that I identify with heavily. As I've mentioned in previous blog posts, I am an avid and addicted shopper, as well as a "fashion enthusiast", for lack of a better term (I don't think I want to call myself a fashionista). “States of the body modify states of the mind,” and clothing for me is just an extension of my body (my extended self, if you will). Wearing clothing that elevates and compliments my body type, creates interesting silhouettes, or just catches people's eyes is one of my favorite things to do. Styling myself is a form of physical, self-marketing. The clothing we wear is often the first, and sometimes only, impression we leave on people. When you pass somebody on the street, your crazy/cool outfit might just be the thing they think about for the next few minutes.
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| Guess who?! |
Leaving impressions on others through what we wear is something I've always been interested in studying more, and I hope to work in fashion marketing after school!
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