Vehicles for Aura
Words by Maria De Feo, Writer
It is practically impossible for whoever has used TikTok or Instagram reels at least once in the past couple months not to have stumbled upon the word “aura”. Recently, for example, Gen Z has started using the expression “aura points”. The idea is that, whenever one does something impressive or acts in a confident, cool way, their aura gains points. Any embarrassing action or awkward interaction results, on the other hand, in a loss of “aura points”.
While, of course, the expression is for the most part used jokingly and is very rarely taken seriously, it is still interesting to see how much the word “aura” has become part of our vocabulary lately. Oftentimes, when I’m drawn to someone and their presence, I cannot help but attribute this to the fact that they must have an amazing aura. There are instances in which I do not even have to talk to the person, in order to think this. According to the New Agers, who are part of a movement called New Age
Screenshot from TikTok
Spirituality, this is because people radiate unique energy fields which can be perceived by and have an effect on surrounding people. When I think about aura, what I have in mind is a person’s authentic self and the way it shines through. While I find the concept of energy extremely interesting, I believe actions and choices also play an immense role in the expression of individuality.
In particular, I think the way people style themselves and the way they do their makeup plays a huge role in the way I view their aura.
Fashion can become a vehicle for someone’s individuality to surface. This because clothing is not a simple ornament or something completely external to us. Fashion is, instead, an expression of our person and of our unique essences. According to scholar Remy G. Sasslein, the process of fusion between personality and clothing started to be recognised even in poetry through Baudelaire. Before, individuals had been thought of as essences in themselves, and their clothing had merely been considered an addition, something external to them. Baudelaire was the first poet to view clothing as an element which made the women to whom he dedicated his poetry complete. Humans are both nature and artifice. Through clothes, the women Baudelaire wrote about stopped being in their natural state and were transformed, in his eyes, into works of art. Similarly, our sense of style and the items of clothes that we choose are an extension and an expression of who we are. They help us operate a shift from mere existence to a full expression of ourselves.
I think a similar phenomenon occurs with makeup. I find this obvious when I watch the videos created by tiktoker Zoe Kim Kenealy, who films makeup tutorials based on the feelings and impressions one wants to give, rather than on “improving” features with makeup. The makeup looks Zoe provides her viewers with are curated and dedicated to the embodiment of an aura. There is a tutorial for girls who want to look like they just came out from a 90s romantic comedy, one for those who are going for a natural, clean look, and one for those who are looking to embody the mysterious seduction of the femme fatale. In all these cases, the focus is physical appearance. However, unlike all other makeup tutorials, Zoe’s are not focused on the idea of chasing the conventionally perfect look. They are, instead, the expression of a strong desire to create feelings in beholders which go beyond the admiration of a beautiful face. If an aura is an ineffable quality that every human possesses, makeup becomes a method to make it shine through.
In both these cases, to focus on physical appearance is not simply to decorate one’s body or face out of vanity. It is, instead, the awareness of how powerful the outer shell which covers our soul can be in showing who we are and who we want to see. To me, at least, this has always been the case. When I see someone with red cheeks, brown eyeliner and a soft sweater, I immediately associate their aura to warmth and cosiness. When I see a girl wearing a black dress and red lipstick, I think of them as sophisticated and mature. Through makeup and clothing, we can paint a portrait of our soul and be admired for who we truly are. We can become like works of art.
