Exploring personal presentation with creativity, courage — and care.
Self-expression is natural, creative, and often joyful — but it can also have an impact on others. That’s why it’s important to take a second look.
Why do people experiment with how they look?
Express yourself!
People of all ages explore their personal presentation – how they look, dress, and express themselves – for lots of great reasons:
Dressing Up?
Here’s What to Know.
Self-expression is awesome — but respect matters too.
Whether you’re trying out a new look, character, or version of yourself, here’s how to do it with care:
DO:
- Be bold — express what feels true to you
- Try drag, gendered fashion, or character looks with thoughtfulness
- Learn the meaning behind styles and symbols
- Respect sacred or earned items (like regalia, uniforms, religious clothing)
- Celebrate your own culture and story
- Ask: “How might this make others feel?”
- Listen if someone says a look feels harmful
DON’T:
- Don’t use someone else’s culture as a costume
- Don’t wear Indigenous regalia or sacred clothing unless it’s part of your identity
- Don’t copy accents, hairstyles, or looks from other cultures for fun
- Don’t treat gender identity as a joke
- Don’t dress up in ways that stereotype or mock people
- Don’t ignore feedback — learn and do better
Style is personal.
Respect is essential.
You can do both.
Why A Second Look?
Because style has power.
Because expression is personal.
Because we can celebrate who we are — without borrowing from others’ sacred, lived, or cultural identities.
Whether you’re dressing for joy, identity, artistry, or exploration…
taking a second look means asking — and answering — questions with care, creativity, and community in mind.
Keep the conversation going…
Keep learning. Keep asking. Keep shining.
Remember the wise words of k.d.lang when accepting a Juno award…
“I think the fact that I’m standing here receiving this award actually says more about Canada than it does about me,” she said. “Only in Canada could there be such a freak as k.d. lang receiving this award. Only in Canada could there be people like Stompin’ Tom Connors and Rita MacNeil. I want to tell you my friends and my countrymen that it is OK to be you. “
“It is OK to let your freak flags fly and embrace the quirkmeister that’s inside of all of us. And I’m not even just talking artists, I’m talking every single person in this nation has the right to be themselves, live life … I love you Canada, thank you so much.”