How will you express yourself through clothing?

Armida, Astolfo, Chrissie, Dani, Danni, Gemma, Juno, Lena, and Nils are all on their own journeys of fashion and identity. They’ve each arrived at their current styles in their own ways, but their stories have some common threads and words of advice.

For many of them, style took time to develop, and they went through different phases and trends before they landed on their current styles. It’s not always straightforward or easy, but you need to find safe spaces to experiment with clothes. Try on something new, something you can’t picture on your body, and lean on community. The best way to experiment is through secondhand clothing, whether that’s through clothing swaps, thrift stores, or your friend’s wardrobe. Just try it, even if you think you’ll hate it.

But ultimately? Wear what makes you happy. Wearing what brings you joy will affect your confidence, how you carry yourself, and empower you to show your authentic self.

The 2SLGBTQIA+ community of Mississippi Mills is here, has always been here, and will continue to be here. The queer community is in every community, and clothing has long since been a way to self-express, connect, rebel, and protest. How will you express yourself through clothing?

A group of people are gathered outside a stone building, lined up to take a group photo. A Pride flag is held up in the middle of the crowd, and another flies on a flagpole above the building's entrance. People hold smaller Pride flags of their own. They are smiling at the camera.

This was the community gathering for the annual Pride flag raising at the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum in 2024. Select the image to learn more.

Nils Acknowledgements