During my interview with Carla Harmon about her dress practices, some themes that emerged in her dressing habits were her occupation, gender, and childhood in her hometown of Ohio. During my interview with Carla, and based on her answers, I noticed that her occupation as a flight attendant shaped her style of dressing into almsot an everyday uniform. She explained to me that even when she is not wearing her flight attendant uniform she continues to piece together outfits that resemble her uniform such as blouses, pencil skirts, blazers, dresses and pumps. She explained to me that she truly lives the flight attendant lifestyle and is highly influenced by it when dressing and choosing what to wear. Her uniform whether at work or in her daily life is a way of dressing that makes her feel confident and empowered. Carla’s uniformity made me think about some themes in Jennifer Craik’s “The Cultural Politics of The Uniform” and when she says “Uniforms are intriguing. Uniforms are all about control, not only of the social self but also of the inner self and its formation. Uniforms send out mixed messages—some of these are obvious but others less so.” (Jennifer Craik, 2003) Knowing Carla as a friend and her roommate, we did discuss how she subconsciously uses her uniform way of dressing as almost a way to have some control over her very unpredictable and hectic life. Her uniform is truly a way for her to exert control in her social life and her inner self. We also discussed how her femeninity influences the way she dresses because she uses soft and delicate colors that contrast with darker colors. Carla’s childhood also influences her daily dress practices due to her mother’s occupation as a seamstress and she would dress Carla up in dresses, skirts, and blouses as a child. In her hometown of Cleveland, Ohio she grew up surrounded by professional African-American woman who would dress highly classy and elegantly which is something she always thinks about while getting dressed and when choosing what garments to buy.
