Flying Was Once A Magical Moment

Air travel was once an “occasion.” An elevated moment that was not at all commensurate with the daily routine. In all such occasions, there is a bit of the sacred, of reverence. There was a moment in time when people saw events in their lives as not homogenous, thus wanting to dress “up” for certain events as compared to others. Flying was one such moment.

This makes me realize that the nostalgia one feels when viewing bygone photos of flight couture is a yearning for a time when people instinctively thought of life as a mix of special moments, some of which required one to dress up as best they could (even if they only owned a few pieces of clothing). I think that’s the real source of the nostalgia we feel: a time when not every moment was seen as homogenous, when in fact all moments are not the same. When there was still sacrality, and when not everything had been leveled off by the decline of appropriate and respectful behavior reflecting consideration for others and the environment.

Of course, dressing well shows respect for other people, especially when you meet people for the first time. When you are well-groomed, you look your best and feel confident, and you will be perceived as someone who expects things to go well.

The psychology of dressing well, also known as "enclothed cognition," suggests that clothing can influence our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. This phenomenon suggests that the symbolic meaning of our clothes can impact our mental processes, affecting our confidence, performance, and even how we perceive ourselves.