The recurring motif of baggy hoodies and nonprescription glasses serves as a physical manifestation of Violet’s trauma-induced defense mechanism: invisibility. Rooted in her abusive mother’s mantra, “[L]ay low and shut your trap” (6), this disguise is a deliberate attempt to erase her physical presence and avoid the dangerous male gaze that has plagued her throughout her life. This self-effacement is a direct illustration of Trauma’s Imprint on Identity and Intimacy, as Violet’s core survival strategy is to not be seen at all. The hoodie and glasses function as her armor, allowing her to navigate a hostile world.

They also indicate her sense of self-loathing, as she claims to have suffered from body dysmorphia. As she slowly heals from her past and her bond with Jude grows, she begins wearing colorful, more stereotypically feminine clothing. When Jude questions her decision to wear a dress to his hockey match, she tells him, “I wanted to feel pretty” (312), demonstrating how she’s beginning to embrace her body and act for herself rather than others. Pleased, he encourages this, as he wants her to act with awareness of his affection for her. By the end of the novel, she abandons her hoodie and glasses, demonstrating her newfound confidence and sense of security in her relationship with Jude.