American School
Costumes added to my confidence. I’m one of those girls that feel naked wearing a pair of jeans and t-shirt. Flip-flops? Forget it. I once had to go to American Schools with clothes designed by the tropics. They were always dresses, skirts, silky blouses and lots and lots of colors which only the “latins” would appreciate. To be dressed, in my case, has a poetic significance. I can’t wear ordinary clothes, not because I think it’s awful. No. But I have no confidence in who I am if the process of dressing is a silent and pale significance. In American School I never wore what everybody wore so the fact of not speaking the language was a bit forgotten. And then remembered, when PROM came and I had to go with this Italian guy whom I can’t remember the name. I didn’t speak Italian either. I faked it.
The first time I wore jeans in front of my American boyfriend he looked rather amazed. I looked rather uncomfortable. I wanted immediately striking clothes so he would assume the responsibility of taking my arm in the streets.
Now I invent things to wear. Not just for my own confidence but other women’s confidence. And most of the time it works. They look at themselves rather amazed. It’s poetic.
