Wearing Confidence with Style
Written by Katrin Surkan
I have never worn a brooch. Or rather, to be more precise, I have never had the confidence to wear one, despite my growing collection of these heirlooms.
Unsure of what to expect from college, I assumed I would have to wear sweatshirts and leggings to fit in. My wardrobe contained a few sweatshirts, a drawer full of jeans, and of course the faux fur-lined parka. Both an 1800s-style shirt handmade by my mentor’s deceased wife and a swishing wrap skirt from my international travels lay in my drawers, untouched. I was afraid to stand out in my own style, so I stuck with the college trends.
There was, however, only one washer and dryer for the 40 girls on my hall in Olds Dorm, so I soon came to a dilemma: wear dirty jeans for one more day or finally wear the wrap skirt. I decided to walk to class in the skirt, carrying myself as tall as I could.
To my astonishment, students repeatedly stopped me to compliment my skirt. These compliments encouraged me to try wearing my other less “collegiate” clothes, but still, I was afraid of stepping back in time by wearing the colonial-style shirt. Though other students walked around in smart casual or occasionally full, professional dress, I still lacked the confidence to wear what I wanted.
I finally gained the confidence to wear my outdated shirt one evening, as I sat on my friend’s bed and asked her, “What’s a petticoat?” Unbeknownst to me, her passion was the history of women’s clothing. After a second of stunned silence, she explained the full history of petticoats, complete with relevant pictures for her informal presentation. Seeing her excited face finally gave me the courage to wear the shirt, and I was thrilled. I received compliment after compliment on my outfit. Humbled, I realized that the issue with my clothes had never been what other people thought but rather what I had been afraid they might think. Inspired by this realization, I practiced my newfound confidence in other aspects of life, including swing dance, conversation, and relationships.
Some of the friends I made through my newfound courage plan to join me at a tea party in mid-February. I sent out the invitations a week ago, making it clear the dress code included a brooch. My grandmother’s heirloom will finally be enjoyed.
Katrin Surkan, ’25, has roots on the east coast but can almost always be found traveling. When not writing, reading, or chatting with someone new, she’s likely looking for a dog to pet or singing at the top of her lungs between classes with a cappuccino in hand.
Published in February 2022