Blurring Reality and Blurring Gender: Fashion and Attire in Virginia Woolf’s Orlando

Abstract

Abstract The aim of this paper is to investigate the interplay between narrative style, gender and fashion within Woolf’s Orlando. This study delves into how Woolf’s use of a biographical narrative approach in a fantasy novel facilitates the exploration of gender stereotypes and their subsequent blurring. In this regard, through a meticulous analysis of Orlando, Woolf ingeniously employs the biographical style to transcend traditional literary boundaries. This stylistic choice allows for a deliberate blurring of reality and fantasy, prompting a transformative narrative experience. Within this narrative framework, the significance of fashion and attire emerges as essential tools for challenging conventional gender norms: clothing serves as a powerful vehicle for destabilising preconceived notions of gender. By situating Orlando’s fluid identity and evolving gender presentation within the context of clothing choices, the novel portrays the malleability of gender constructs. The blurring of genders is skilfully intertwined with the blurring of reality, forging a narrative tapestry that offers profound insights into societal perceptions of identity. In conclusion, this paper illuminates how Woolf’s novel enables a thoughtprovoking exploration of gender stereotypes, ultimately advocating for a more inclusive and fluid understanding of identity through the lens of fashion and attire.