Isaac Lahey and His Evolving Wardrobe

[impala_chick]

Isaac meta! Written for fffc Fandom Battle week 14. Also on AO3.

“In this process of identity creation, there is an attempt to strike a balance between the dynamic interplay of conformity and individuality – identified as a core aspect of fashion.” (Source)

Isaac’s outfit choices mirror his identity transformation, and I argue he goes through 3 phases on the show.

Phase I



When Isaac is first introduced in season 2, we see him in grubby clothes - possibly hand-me-downs from his brother. He mostly wears plain sweatshirts, jeans, and t-shirts in black and white or dark tones. He appears to want to hide himself away in his clothes, and the bagginess of them makes him seem as small as possible. He often goes unnoticed while he's working at the graveyard. Baggy and plain clothes - or at least clothes that are about comfort without regard for how they look - are sometimes associated with people who are suffering from depression. (Source) As we know, Isaac is still trapped in an abusive relationship with his father at the beginning of the show, and we know that he lost his brother. He may still be in mourning for him, and he's also kept hidden away from most everyone else. He feels powerless, and doesn't have many friends. These early outfits definitely fit with how Isaac is feeling.

Phase II

Then, Isaac becomes a werewolf. He dons a black leather jacket and an all-black wardrobe, very similar to what Derek wears. He seems to be trying to emulate his alpha and also set himself apart from all of his peers. He’s not hiding himself away because his clothes fit, but he’s still got several layers on. They form a barrier between himself and the rest of the world. He uses his outfit as one way of projecting power and dominance over others. We see him trying to be over-confident and in-control as he cuts class and generally gets into trouble with Eric and Boyd. At this point, he’s still not comfortable with who he is and doesn’t really have a signature style - he’s still taking cues from Derek and others.

Phase III

In season 3, we see Isaac’s final transformation. We watch him join Scott’s pack and grow closer to Allison and Stiles and the rest of Scott’s friends. His style settles as it becomes clear he’s making his own choices (like which pack to join) and becoming an adult. He chooses a lot of v-necks, striped button up sweaters, and jackets with big collars, as well as accessories - namely, the iconic scarves that he wears occasionally. He does wear a black leather jacket again, especially in moments where he seems to be offering comfort or support to Scott, but it’s generally paired with other more colorful undershirts. He definitely dresses more upscale and appears older. He still wears layers, but he’s less covered up and the v of his chest is often showing. His growing maturity is showcased through his outfit choices. His tight jeans and larger sweaters make him both attractive and approachable, and he appears to dress older than many of the other male characters (i.e. Scott and Stiles) on the show. He even puts his newfound quiet confidence to use when he pursues a relationship with Allison. Isaac is not hiding anymore.

I will also note that I probably shouldn’t look too deeply into Isaac’s scarf choices, considering after the first time it became a running joke on set *g* (Source)