The draped fashionista’s guide to vogue

“ISN’T that too short/ revealing?” has to be one of the most common phrases any woman has ever been asked.
The natural response is obviously to ask that person whether or not measures would not have been taken by that individual to cover up, if indeed it made them feel uncomfortable for being too short or revealing.
Still, the question is asked by a society that takes pleasure in victim blaming women based on their standard of propriety when it comes to clothes.
Most people will recall the infamous mini-skirt banning incident of 2013, where the Inspector General of NamPol Sebastian Ndeitunga was quoted in a local paper having allegedly said that any woman found wearing revealing clothes would be arrested. The General of course said he was misquoted but not before there was a widespread public outcry and protests by locals on the matter.
Following the example of those protesters, all fashionistas should take an oath to not subscribe to these arbitrary standards of propriety. Although most traditional attire can be considered revealing, people have double standards saying it’s okay because it’s cultural.
However, the reasons for wearing clothes have not changed, regardless of whether it is made from cow hide or poly-cotton. Current clothing trends have evolved over the centuries to fit the social landscape a certain community at a given time. Whatever ‘revealing’ clothes worn today, are inspired by the traditional attire.
Slut-shaming on the basis of clothing basically implies that the wearer of said garments is doing so to evoke a reaction from other people. However real fashionistas knows that they dress for themselves, in what makes them feel confident, beautiful and comfortable.
Much like paintings and sculptures, fashion is also a form of expression. It is a way of sending a message without using words.
So when is something too short or revealing in the life of a fashionista? Never; one simply has to ask themselves a few pertinent questions. Am I comfortable with what I am wearing? Is it getting my message across? Does this make me feel beautiful?
If your answer to all the questions is yes and it complements your body shape, then it’s not too short or too revealing. The people who try to force their standards of propriety on you are those who feel uncomfortable because it makes them feel a certain way about themselves. It is basically them projecting the feeling of their own insecurities on you because they do not know how to address them.
These are also the very people who try to justify rape culture by saying the victim provoked the perpetrator by wearing certain kinds of clothing. People attach pre-conceived notions to specific kinds of clothing which is why they are quick to judge and put labels on it, like believing only ‘sluts’ wear miniskirts.
Either way, that should not stop you from wearing what you want to wear, as long as you believe it is appropriate for that specific setting and makes you feel like a million dollars. That is the only drive behind clothing choices for a fashionista.