Reminiscing Memories of Fashion

By: M. Gilchrist

We reminisce when we smell something, see someone or something, and our minds rush back to a memory. A big part of nostalgia are clothes. We see our closets as a room of outfits; however, we never realize the memories that are interwoven in the fabrics. Clothes trigger our sense of smell, touch, and they transport us to a time gone by.

All of fashion links to nostalgia. It has been studied by the researchers of “The Journal of Experimental Psychology”, where the term “enclothed cognition” was formulated. A term used to relate our actions, feelings, thoughts, moods and psychological processes to the way we dress. The theory explores the idea that the clothes you wear represent different things and activate different parts of your mind. An experiment was carried out where a group of people (group A) wore their normal clothes, while another group of people (group B) wore their normal clothes, but with a doctor’s coat. Both groups were presented the same mental questions, however group B committed half the mistakes that group A committed.

However, how does this impact the fashion trends and vintage styles seen today? For people of ages 20 to 30, the 90s were their childhood and using clothes is a natural way to reminisce about when they were younger, for nostalgia is a pain that we cannot let go- from what you wore to your 10th birthday party or the Christmas at your grandmother’s house. Trends reappear from now and then. The so called “Vintage” is something we are accustomed to seeing in big fashion magazines such as “Vogue” or “Harper’s Bazaar”. Vogue has published many articles on 00s It Bags or 90s best runways. Today so many of us bring back the denims and florals worn by the cast of “Saved by The Bell” or Britney Spears’ casual sportswear.

How much we may want to go back to the past now and then. It is important to remember that the world changes, and so do we with it. Your clothes and your wardrobe are a good way to still feel nostalgia, but also be able to find balance between reminiscing and moving on.

Despite the great pop culture moments from the past, it is important to remember that fashion goes much beyond that. It might be a simple, white-colored shirt to you, but to the person wearing it, it is the first day of school, running in the park with their friends. The memories that formed their personalities are now forming their wardrobe.