Perception is most often not an objective process and memories are even farther from reality. I find it interesting how clothes can change the way we are perceived by others - the
impression we leave in their minds. Take Modigliani's portraits of Jean Cocteau and Mario Varvogli for example:
Cocteau certainly didn't have the shoulders of a scarecrow and Varvogli couldn't have been shoulderless. However, look what different impressions their respective clothes and allures made on Modigliani! If we understand this, we can
use clothes to project a certain image, or at least lead others' perception in the direction we want (look authoritative, unapproachable, friendly, relaxed , impressive etc.) - much the way Michael explained in a recent video on dresswithstyle.com.
Here is Cocteau's portrait by Federico de Madrazo de Ochoa:
The perception is not much different from Modigliani's, is it?
And here is the original, with his structured coats and built up shoulders (so much for a balanced and fair post, UC
):
(Cocteau in musical surgery...)
What's more, he really had no need for such built up, heavily padded coat shoulders at all!:
Too bad Modigliani didn't introduce them to each other's tailors
