The Wardrobe: Archives of Our Biography

As obvious as it may seem, I had never thought of the wardrobe as a personal museum. In her article “But What Were You Wearing?: Clothes and Memories”, Sophie Woodward highlights the importance of the memorial experience that clothing provides. If the wardrobe is perceived as our permanent collection, then we are its true curators, responsible for selecting and organizing its contents. It thus becomes a personal museum that tells our story—not chronologically, but by revealing our values, interests, culture, society, and aspirations.

This article guided my reflection on how we choose to present and preserve certain aspects of our lives each time we decide to part with a piece of clothing. It made me think of the “highlight reel” phenomenon on social media, where we only show the “good” and try to hide failures or less glorious moments in our lives. As Woodward points out: “When women throw out clothing, often it is when they are trying to discard a part of themselves. The process of forgetting as well as remembering is a conscious act.” It is interesting to note that, even in the absence of others’ gaze, we still create a kind of edited version of our lives.

But what happens when micro-trends and fast fashion affect the symbolic lifespan of our clothes? Can we still preserve the memory and biographical value of our wardrobe?

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