The frivolous quality of an interest in fashion has often been bandied around. I myself recognize the connotations that come with a preoccupation in fashion (I usually omit mentioning it to people at my school), however really any focused interest outside of an academic subject seems to make someone seem less intelligent. Sports, baking, video games, each of these are also hobbies which give little benefit to anyone. Why are men obsessed with football not labeled as frivolous? I do not think fashion should be attacked as overtly frivolous and useless--since at least fashion is something you wear every day.
But what about the haute couture fashion, clothing as art, expensive in the extreme, these are not worn by the common man every day. Why do I check online numerous times each day (during fashion weeks) to see what designer has shown and what colorful artifice has stalked down the runway? Visiting these sites, analyzing the pieces, what value and benefits do they really impart to me? A momentary escape from my daily mundanity, a glimpse into a different world? At the end of the day I must turn off the computer or look away and return to real life, with a few hours wasted...
23 comments:
An interesting question you have asked which I have always wondered about since I am of the same ilk and am that obsessive about seeing collections that in reality would never be mine......
Perhaps it is escapism. Perhaps it's those moments of delving into something so entirely different from my own life.....
The pictures make me laugh
the words make me think
Great blog/ post
-isn't that a beautiful hiakui?
i see what you mean, ive actually never really thought about it until now!
interesting post:)
(in reply to your comment) yeh i guess, but if you count their emoish hoodies that everyone wears- then no, but affordable nice starry dresses can be a plus.
x
I understand what you mean. I get ribbed for caring about fashion by my family and friends constantly. All in good fun, but those same arguments come up. I think couture collections, and even at times ready to wear collections are more something to look at and enjoy and then, perhaps, take elements that are actually possible to emulate, then incorporate them into your look. And even if you don't do all that, if it's something you enjoy doing, do it. If fashion stopped being fun for me I would definetly stop. After all even if couture is art, the clothing you wear boils down to just that, clothing.
Haha, I must agree.
Fashion does take me away from the real-life at times. But, it is needed.
its just the same as going to a museum or getting a picture book - all serve as inspiration and, yea, escapism. its what keeps us having an imagination, u kno? haha i "waste" hours pouring over magazines and fashion websites as well...unfortunaltey/fortunatley i dont think that will ever end :P
I totally agree with the football comment. I mean, why is fashion seemed to be so ridiculous and people obsessed with video games and manga not? I wear a decent stylistically acceptable outfit and everyone acts like I went to mars. Great post.
i understand what you mean. why is fashion so ridiculous? how you present yourself to the world is important, it's the first impression you make. looking professional and put together is harder than people think. style isn't silly. and btw, the football idea is totally true!
If people had any idea of what went into designing and creating one of those dresses from start to finish, they're heads would explode.
I consider football frivolous. Although I'm still going to watch the Super Bowl... Go Giants!
I never really understood haute couture, but at least it's artistic. i guess designers find inspiration everywhere.
I completely understand. I was slightly ashamed at being so into fashion until my mother bought me Bruce Weber's incredible book Blood, Sweat and Tears and inscribed it to me saying interest in fashion doesn't denote frivolity but is evidence of intense creativity. However this post (and your comments on Mode et Utopie, which I have responded to) made me think of something else. When people say Fashion is escapism it makes me very uncomfortable. It is a similar to the concept of 'safe space', which allows us to somehow view arenas (whether fashion or feminism) as spaces where we believe we are safe from all the isms which plague us in the 'other' world and thus blinds us to the hideous things which occur in these spaces. This isn't an accusation of anything but instead I think that if we can only begin to allow ourselves to not be ashamed of taking fashion so seriously and interact with it the way we interact with problematic issues 'out there' then fashion has a chance at greater legitimacy in the world. When people ask why I like fashion i say ( first the frivolity) I love to style things and create and then I say fashion like all aspects of life, displays the issues and currents which affect my world (globalization, racism, heteronormativity, sexism etc.) and because no-one takes it seriously these things slide making it even more dangerous than something 'worthwhile'. Really everyone will be up in arms about Imus (and well they should) but no-one comments on Vogue's use of Kenyan tribesman as a backdrop for a faux colonial shoot with Ms. Knightly when the sentiment and history behind each act is similar.
I am in your boat. I waste a lot of time looking at clothes online and reading about them. I read once that 'fashion is the only part of culture in which everyone participates,' which I thought was so interesting. It is so true, and certainly serves as an argument against its friviloty.
And I don't really talk about fashion too much at school either, it's kind of a secret internet thing. :)
this is very true..
when i tell people i'm a fashion merchandising major i always add in..
"but i'm not stupid! I'm just really passionate about fashion"
so sad that i have to defend myself against nay-sayers.
xoxo
That is such a great quote whimsical nerd. If you remember where it is from please let me know.
To me, fashion and its influences are inspiration in much the same way as a good book or a piece of art that I admire- I may never be able to afford anything by John Galliano, but it's all in the imagination, right?
Truthfully, I think people are uncomfortable with fashion because they think it's a narrow-minded and judgmental thing that condemns people for being 'last season'. It's hard to make people understand that it's so much more than that..
Which is why I mostly keep quiet about it offline (but people know it anyway, thanks to peeking over my shoulder while I'm on the computer)- so much better to keep it online, where people get it.
that question occurrs to me all the time. it's quite unfair, but at least the recent frequency of fashion exhibitions at art museums seems to be increasing its legitimacy in the eyes of some...
that really does look like a bucket on her head!
I'd love you to do more runway stuff, you have a really interesting take on fashion
CJB, I remember that Knightley shoot (and others like it) and I too found it offensive. I think many people do and editorials like that might be partly to blame in why fashion is seen as frivolous. Are such images produced in ignorance (then the editors are idiots) or knowingly (then we should be angry); either way it does nothing to earn fashion respect as an interest.
I find DIYs, thrifting, styling and certain aspects of fashion as a creative outlet (this blog included), but other aspects I think work as escapism.
The cricism of Galliano's current collection has still got me thinking. While it was called "antiquated Orient," I think this might be unfair. The exaggerated bubble hems are modern, the bucket hats thoroughly futuristic. I do still see geisha hairstyles and certain "asian" (though I would be more specific and say Japanese) inspirations. Is it wrong for a westerner to be inspired by the Japanese culuture? He is not using them as background, or portraying a culture as lesser--so what is wrong with his inpsiration from the east?
It's great that we agree on the basics, but not the specifics. It's true this Galliano collection is definitely not the most problematic one he has ever had. As for the question about inspiration and when it becomes ugly, I would say there is a very subjective fine line. I don't know any way to measure it objectively but I do know I am immediately suspicious of western designers traveling the globe....
CJB - I share your suspicions, but I think we draw slightly different conclusions...
Anyway, I am going to say no, I don't think all fashion is solely about escapism or bad utopian thinking...
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