The Clothes Shop

A little story about body image, beauty and confidence.

     In a big city, somewhere in a populated area, is a large and popular clothes shop. This clothes shop is popular because not only does it sell clothes, but it also teaches its shoppers how to select their clothes. This was a wise and innovative business move because the shop realised how little its shoppers knew how to buy their clothes properly. It watched daily as people walked in, picked up items they saw others buying or trying on items that were either too small or too big for them. It watched as some people bought the most expensive and flamboyant items to stand out, while others tried to buy the most plain and neutral clothes to blend in. It also endured all of the comments that people made daily such as ‘does this look ok?’ or ‘I wish I were more beautiful’. 

     So one day, it put up a notice on its wall saying: ‘Clothes are sold in this shop not to make you more beautiful or handsome, but to enable you to express the character and beauty you already have’. At first, the shoppers were incredulous. How dare the shop suggest that they were beautiful already! Buying clothes gave them an excuse to feel good about themselves without actually having to dig deep within them to figure out how to feel good about themselves in the first place. So it was no surprise that the shoppers were about to turn around and find another shop when they caught sight of the most handsome mannequin imaginable. Unlike an ordinary mannequin, with its lifeless and fashionable look, this mannequin seemed to be truly alive. Its clothes were swaying in some invisible breeze and the colours suited it perfectly. Beauty seemed to radiate from somewhere within the mannequin and the shoppers were captivated.

     A deep and mysterious desire bubbled up in the hearts of the shoppers as they stared at the mannequin. The iridescent colours of the mannequin’s clothes seemed to be touching the very core of the people as they saw the possibility of what could be if they followed this  strange new advice. One by one, the shoppers turned around and headed back towards the clothes on sale. Colours and designs seemed to burst with life and energy as the shoppers thought for the first time ‘Who am I?’ and ‘What suits me?’. People laughed and danced as they tried on new outfits and beauty could be found everywhere. Those who always tried to keep up with other’s opinions discovered their own true colours. Those who lacked the confidence to try on expressive styles gasped as they realised how free and confident they now looked. 

     So now, joyful shoppers enter the shop everyday as the shop looks on in happiness. For they have all learned the lesson that the shop wanted them to: That wearing clothes does not make them more beautiful, or more unattractive, or more anything. Instead, they shop because they are already beautiful, or confident, or smart, so they simply buy the things that reflect their character. And when both align with each other, they leave the shop looking amazing in every possible way.