In defence of Baggy Jumpers.

- How much do you tell people about yourself? I don't mean just in conversation, but in how you look, how you carry yourself? They say that a marginal amount of communication is through speech, that presentation and other factors are key. I have to admit, I use this to a truly ridiculous degree.

- The amount that people will judge you purely on face value is just bizarre, though. Your clothes, hair and makeup seem to be so defining to the outside world - partially because I don't speak to 90% of the people I encounter, mainly on my busy commute. I sometimes wonder what they think about me.

- I like to use people's assumptions for my own amusement. For example, I can't remember the last time I wore a dress. I primarily live in an outfit of enormously baggy proportions, and my uniform for school is principally a pair of cutoffs, and a man's jumper. 

- Friends have described me as a 'tomboy'. Some have even found my androgenic dressing grounds to question my sexuality, as though masculine attire and lesbians are inextricably linked. In reality, I dress this way because: 1) it's easy, and 2) you're going to have a bastard of a time working out what I'm like from what I'm wearing.

- I don't want to give up my secrets easily. I like a little intrigue, you know? So when people see me crushed up in on the underground, with my straightened hair, excessive-to-say-the-least eye-makeup, and my unfeminine outfit, I wonder whether they feel a little apprehensive in selecting a pigeonhole?

- I enjoy subverting expectations. As a woman, my body is a battleground, and everyone, male or female, will make an immediate opinion of me based on my appearance. My dearest wish is for a blank canvas - one that would let people judge me on my mind (which I can improve), instead of my body (which I ,largely, can't).

- Of course, this is an impossible dream. So every monday morning, I stumble blearily to my wardrobe to select the most indistinguishable jumper from my ever-growing collection and drag on the same ragged old shorts. I spend twice as much time on my face as I do getting dressed, and three times more on my hair.

- I think this is mainly because I don't want the blank canvas effect wasted. I don't want to come across as a woman devoid of care for her appearance - I like to look good, I like to wear make-up, I like to wear my hair down. Interestingly, I've never dressed up an outfit but not put on make-up, though it would probably have much the same effect.

- Sometimes my friends complain about my general attire, and force me to drag out of my brimming wardrobe something with a bit more pizazz. My wardrobe is full of pizazz, but I tend to reserve it for when I am amongst people who know me - who will not make unfounded assumptions from my appearance, who won't see the clothes wearing me.

- I was recently forced to dress up for a ridiculously fancy shindig - think marquee fitted out with chandeliers and waiters with trays of champagne loitering by the ice sculptures. I was forced to contend with a lot of unwanted male attention, which distressed me. In my usual outfit, I have a very decent pulling rate, simply because men seem to find my personality attractive

(this is something I wish more women knew. Talking a man into bed is the easiest thing in the world). 

- At this gig, guys wanted none of it. I was fondled and groped. Older men leered. One of the hosts even tried for a quickie on a snooker table. To me, this outfit did not imbibe confidence or empowerment - it simply suggested sexuality and provoked a response that I was unable and unhappy to contend with. 

- I do not mean to suggest that all women should dress conservatively - not at all. A true enjoyment in the expression of your body is completely right-on. I just wish sometimes we'd try a little harder with our minds and a less with our bodies, and make men work to understand us rather than allowing them to draw their own conclusions.