Runways are mirrors, sure, but they’re warped by glitter and applause, so they show the shiny surface you’re selling, not the raw texture underneath. We all put on a coat of fashion—sometimes a mask, sometimes a statement—and the line between illusion and authenticity blurs when the crowd wants to applaud the spectacle. The trick is to keep the inner thread visible, even if it’s hidden under sequins; the real drama is what you dare to show when the lights dim.