The dark side to the 'perfect dress'

Fairy tales such as Cinderella reveal the magical thinking behind dresses: the fantasy that a perfect gown exists that will allow us to be seen, finally, as we truly are. Throughout history, stories of women wearing beautiful dresses reveal the belief that they can bewitch, beguile and even bend people to their will.

But does a dress really have the power to transform the way people see us? Shahidha Bari explores what the clothes we wear can tell us about ourselves.

Animation by Hillary Huong Vu

23 February 2022