University of Michigan student Oummu Kabba reflects on her experiment of wearing the same outfit for ten days, revealing insights into her relationship with clothing and identity.

In a personal essay featured in The Michigan Daily, University of Michigan student Oummu Kabba shares her experience with a unique experiment: wearing the same outfit for ten consecutive days. This undertaking arose from a deep-seated struggle with her relationship to fashion, particularly the pressures and expectations surrounding clothing choices that she has felt throughout her life.

Kabba reflects on her past experiences with clothing, referencing her upbringing in a modest and practical household where fashion was not a vehicle for self-expression but rather a matter of functionality. She describes how, during high school, her clothing choices were often dictated by implicit standards, preventing her from fully exploring her own style. Upon entering college, she embraced the idea of fashion as a form of freedom and creativity. However, over time, this freedom became burdensome, as daily outfit selection transformed into a tedious chore.

After experiencing what Kabba terms “fashion fatigue,” she decided to reset her perspective by committing to wear the same outfit for ten days. On the first day, she faced the challenge of selecting a practical outfit suitable for various activities, ultimately settling on a long-sleeve navy shirt, wide-legged brown pants, and black shoes. Throughout the initial days, Kabba experienced a longing for creative expression that she hadn’t anticipated, revealing the underlying value of choices in fashion that she had taken for granted.

As she progressed through her experiment, Kabba detailed the emotional and psychological effects of wearing the same attire daily. By the fourth day, she noted a warped sense of time and an increased awareness of how clothing serves as a conversation starter and a representation of personal identity. She described the daily repetition as a kind of purgatory, where her outfit conveyed little beyond the bare fact of her existence.

Kabba’s reflections on the outfit became more profound by Day 5, as she developed an unexpected intimacy with her clothing. She described ironing her pants as a means of finding control amidst chaos, evoking memories of her high school days and recognizing the contrasting pressures placed upon her compared to those faced by her male counterparts.

By the sixth day, Kabba found herself grappling with societal perceptions of outfit repeating and the associated embarrassment. This discomfort highlighted the pressures she internalized about clothing representation and expectations. In a momentary encounter at the university dining hall, she felt compelled to hide under her winter coat upon recognizing a classmate, illustrating the internalized anxieties she faced regarding judgment from others.

As her experiment neared completion, Kabba expressed a transformation in her feelings toward the outfit she once viewed neutrally. By the end of the ten days, she began to associate the clothing with empowerment, confidence, and a refreshed sense of self. The experience shifted her perspective on fashion from one of obligation to a more fluid and fulfilling understanding of personal expression.

Kabba’s essay concludes with an acknowledgment of her newfound appreciation for clothing and the choice it represents. While she looks forward to creatively engaging with fashion once again, she has learned the importance of taking her time in navigating the complexities of self-presentation in a world where clothing often conveys far more than just fabric and style.

Source: Noah Wire Services