Women at Hillsdale College say they are especially intentional about showcasing the beauty of womanhood and individuality through their clothing.
Junior Anna Maisonville said to her, femininity means respecting the unique woman God has created her to be.
“Although clothing will never affect who I truly am, I see my style as a reflection of my desire to embrace womanhood and its joys, especially in a world that seeks to neutralize its power,” Maisonville said.
Expressing femininity through clothing is a powerful way for women to present their understanding of the world and the things they value, Maisonville said.
“By dressing well, individuals signal to their peers that they care about the details, and they take life seriously,” Maisonville said.
Junior Sarah Trimbath started working for a fashion company called Lady Lancaster when she was 16 years old.
“That’s where I started to fall in love with slow fashion, high-end luxury fashion, and runway looks,” Trimbath said. “I’m really inspired by vintage clothes because I think nothing is really new that we’re doing now — it’s all variations of what’s already been done.”
Trimbath said she doesn’t think clothes are a defining factor of whether or not a person is feminine or masculine.
“I think it’s limiting to say a true girl should only wear pink, frilly dresses,” Trimbath said. “I think you can be an amazing woman and not wear pink.”
Senior Nikoleta Klikovac said she doesn’t think there is a distinctively feminine way to dress anymore.
“For me, femininity means having confidence in your self expression regardless of societal expectations,” Klikovac said. “I think everyone would be surprised at just how feminine it feels to be confident in your outfit.”
Klikovac said when she has an off day with her self image, wearing a form-fitting dress is not appealing to her.
“On those days, my baggy clothes are just as valuable for my femininity as anything else,” Klikovac said.
Junior Elke White said she made the commitment to only wear dresses and skirts when she was in high school.
Surrounded by people who didn’t dress that way, White said she reflected on whether dressing in a Biblically feminine way was something she was committed to doing.
“When I really thought about it, it was something I felt convicted about on a level of consecration,” White said. “I still feel very at liberty to express myself and wear what I want while in a physical way setting myself apart through femininity.”
Femininity should start inward and move outward, White said. It’s a process between a woman and God.
White partly grew up in New Mexico, where she said the blend of cultures and funky fashion influenced her style.
“My stepmom was an art major, and she sews her own clothes sometimes,” White said. “Being around people who were making their own clothes and had really wild expressions of personality very much influenced my style.”
Junior Sarah McKeown said women should aspire to match their external appearance to their internal character.
“What you wear reflects yourself, your values, and your vision,” McKeown said. “It’s entirely your own.”
As a woman, it’s a profound but often overlooked privilege to have abounding choices in how a woman composes herself, McKeown said.
“It’s entirely within one’s power to decide who one seeks to be each and every day,” McKeown said.
If women want to evolve their personal style to better embrace their femininity, Maisonville said women can start by dressing up more than usual, wearing jewelry, and doing their hair. Learning what styles best accent a woman’s natural beauty is another important factor in displaying femininity through clothing, Maisonville said.
It also helps to find inspiration in women from real life and online, asking them where they get their clothes from, Trimbath said. Learning the history behind feminine styles is interesting too.
“Don’t limit yourself. Try different things until you feel comfortable. Not every girl is going to feel comfortable in a frilly pink dress, but that doesn’t make you less of a woman,” Trimbath said.
