Do you express feminism in what you wear?

This is my contribution to the Feminist Fashion Blogger Project - read our feature article about it!

How do you express your feminism in the way you dress? That's honestly something I've never considered when choosing what to wear. The only looks-based thing about me that I might have considered feminist, before now, is my hair, which in its sheer volume and unruly refusal to behave made me feel a special kinship to Gloria Steinem. But clothes? Never thought of anything in my wardrobe as much more than either the daily geek uniform or the occasional dressy goodness.

After reading through the discussions and blog entries of the FFBs though, and writing about how Siouxsie Sioux's style could be interpreted as having feminist undertones, it gave me plenty to think about as far as whether there might be some kind of hint of feminism in what I wear.

What I've realized is that even though I don't have feminism or any other political motivation going on when I put on clothes in the morning, the stuff that I choose to wear - specifically jeans and comfy pants/leggings, skirts and dresses sans slips or petticoats, and freak-fly-smashed-in-a-clippie hair - I can do that because of feminism. There aren't crazy gender-based rules on what clothing is appropriate, binding dresses aren't required, and helmet hair is a thing of the past. I can wear a skirt with combat boots if I want, or an old-school binding dress, or my usual everyday uniform, jeans, comfy top, a pair of special shoes and some fun accessories.

And, I can do it because of the women before me who did make a feminist statement with their clothes.

So, dear readers, especially during this month of women's history, think about what you might be wearing if the feminist movement hadn't insisted on banishing the clothes of our mothers and grandmothers. Instead of squeezing into a corset or girdle so the cinched waist dress would look just right, or spending hours and entirely too much hairspray on some crazy 'do, you can wear what's comfortable and more indicative of your personality. Of course if corsets and helmet hair are your thing, that can be feminist, too. At least you have the choice.