I now firmly believe that one must always dress up for the stature in life that they want to achieve. It's not that I didn't believe it before but growing up it just want something I gave conscious thought to. Nevertheless, somewhere along the way it became deeply ingrained in me.
My first vivid recollection of what an impact clothes can make was when I saw my father in a dinner blazer as he headed out for a meeting. I saw him and my brain formed words which my mouth blurted out even before I could refine or edit what I was saying - I complimented him with "you look like a prince". Now, bear in mind, that neither me nor my dad are very expressive so while I was horrified at what I apparently just uttered, my dad was even more taken aback but had a genuinely pleased grin on his face. If you ask him he'll have no idea what that expression looks like and I'll blame my "prince" perceptions on classic Bollywood movies - thank you Dharmendra, Shammi Kapoor and other such legends.
This blundering of words and instinctive reactions also made me realise the power of compliments - but I'll save this for another blog.
I remember, every time I got ready for an occasion, or later on for my own corporate life, I obsessed over the smallest of crease or a hint of ill fitting silhouettes. Showing up for work every day in neatly tucked and ironed shirts, smart trousers and formal boots (yes boots, and it was chic as hell!) was a norm for me. When I look back, I do think I made heads turn - even if those looks were only to convey "what board meeting does she think she's off to".
While no one is to be allowed to direct what you should wear, you must always show up for yourself. Dress up in a way that commands respect and exudes confidence and grace. Show up crisp, sharp and collected; it not only boosts your own confidence but demands respect toward the efforts put in getting you there, looking like your own diva version...aaand lets accept it, you damn well deserve it.
Featured illustration: Handwoven cotton hand block printed saree "Sensuous Wine"