Why does the myth of the life-transforming dress endure? On the one hand, we might see it as a kind of brutal pragmatism. We all understand that we are judged by what we wear. If you attend an exclusive party in sweatpants, you will receive a different reception to that of the person wearing a formal gown. Strip away the magic of many fairy tales, and what you have is a realistic assessment of the social order, and the way clothes place us in the world. On the other hand, we might see this myth as one now aggressively sustained by those in the business of making and selling clothes. For the fashion industry, the promise of change is a powerful profit-making tool. All you need do is buy the right garment, and your life will be forever altered.
