Adornment simultaneously singles out its wearer and requires others’ gaze to have value

Evidence

Adornment is the egoistic element as such: it singles out its wearer, whose self-feeling it embodies and increases at the cost of others (for, the same adornment of all would no longer adorn the individual). But, at the same time, adornment is altruistic: its pleasure is designed for the others, since its owner can enjoy it only insofar as he mirrors himself in them; he renders the adornment valuable only through the reflection of this gift of his. — Georg Simmel, The Sociology of Georg Simmel, 8222

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Man needs woman’s confirming gaze to affirm his particular self. — Simone de Beauvoir, The Second Sex, 399; Even self-directed feminine adornment requires an external gaze — Simone de Beauvoir, The Second Sex, 1574; Dressing for display makes women dependent on others’ recognition for self-worth — Simone de Beauvoir, The Second Sex, 1582