Confidence is my style #ConfidentYou

Author: Nisha Tandon

“Style is a reflection of your attitude and your personality.”

I couldn’t agree more with this quote by Shawn Ashmore. For me, style is not an outward appearance but something that defines you and your personality.

No matter what the situation demands, if you confidently carry yourself, you are a winner all the way. The world may think differently but I talk out of experience. I don’t think branded clothes, or the latest trends define you or your character. If you have that extra dash of confidence, it helps you stand out in the crowd, and this happened with me at the beginning of my career. 

Though I had bagged a prestigious job as a housekeeper with a flagship hotel in the heart of Delhi, there was a burning desire within me to fulfil my childhood aspiration of being an air hostess. This was in the year 1992. As luck would have it, I came to know about an upcoming airline, hiring its crew members. 

I was happy with my job profile but decided to give this new opportunity a try. I knew I had to be there. It was as if my deepest desires were manifesting. Without letting anyone know about it, I decided to go ahead with the entire process of applying for the job. This was for Modiluft, a collaboration of Modis and Lufthansa. Though I worked in hotel industry, I still couldn’t get myself to adapt to the so called,” modern ways” of Delhi.

My upbringing was in a small town in West Bengal. I dressed as per latest fashion trends but couldn’t bring myself to wear revealing clothes, and that at times made me feel out of place. I was happy being modernand progressive in my way of thinking yet maintaining a conservative dressing style. I knew I could manage any situation with my extra dash of confidence. And I was provenright. 

There were multiple rounds in the hiring process for the cabin crew. I cleared the introduction round, easily sailed through the “group discussion “round and in fact impressed the jury. So far so good. I was happy with my performance and waited eagerly for the next round,” parade round” which was to happen the next day. We were asked to be in skirts for that round. 

We returned excited the next day and I confidently wore my long brown skirt (length being below the knees), one of my favourites. When I reached the venue, I was in a state of shock. I saw the girls there in skimpiest of clothes. I felt quite out of place. But I held my fort, did not get overwhelmed or carried away as a few smirked at me, a few refused to associate with me and for a few, I just didn’t exist.

But humanity isn’t dead. A couple of girls approached me and politely offered me a short skirt as they had carried an extra. I thanked them for this gesture and turned down the offer. I had nothing against short dresses, but I personally wasn’t comfortable wearing them. We were called in for the interview round. After the question answer round, we were asked to walk the room. I stood out in a room of girls with short skirts, but my confidence reflected on my face and my posture. Even if I wasn’t selected, I knew I had not compromised on my morals and belief. We waited for the outcome anxiously. The results were announced, and I was one of the selected candidates.

That day I proved it to everyone that the length of the skirt did not define me, “my confidence” did.