BEING IN EXCESS: AN AUTO-ETHNOGRAPHY OF WORK, LEISURE, AND FASHION

American stories can be told through the clothing we wear to work and for leisure, as our clothing carries nonverbal insignias of who we are. This is true especially for services workers who have to abide by strict dress codes and uniforms that let consumers know who they are. Leisure clothing thus becomes increasingly important for many service workers looking to build identity outside of the boundaries of their occupations. This auto-ethnography aims to understand that ways in which clothing is a tool of control and a means for liberation. Specifically, it investigates six items of clothing, three work uniforms and three leisurely dress items through an object-based case study, which reveals the history and impact of the items on myself (micro) and on American culture, and global cultures more generally (macro.)