Here is the problem: actresses should be good at acting, but we tend to get confused and admire or hate their fashion sense. When really at the end of the day they aren't stylists/fashionistas, they're actresses--they act! I think this problem emerges from their numerous public appearances and current domination of magazine covers. What Tilda Swinton wore to the Oscars (love it or hate it) shouldn't really matter, as what she specializes in and is paid to do is act--which she does very well.
Also, while we bemoan at the slip ups on modern red carpet and admire the polished glamour of yesteryear, let us remember that in those days stars did not have the style freedom they possess today. The studio renamed and remade (dye jobs, hair cuts, plastic surgery, stylists, you name it) their stars into the shells we love and admire. Studios even primped their leading ladies and lads for events--bringing a team of hairdressers, make up artists and stylists to the actor or actress for every prevalent event (and there were fewer events too!). So while, the golden age might seem lovely, it wasn't very free nor is it really within the reach of stars today.
Now don't misunderstand my words (here is where I say this is just an opinion, as if it wasn't clear that was what typed by one set of hands is one young lady's opinion...), actresses may dabble and dare I say, even enjoy fashion. There are many actresses/film industry buffs who's fashion I admire (Sofia Coppola, Chloe Sevigny, Keira Knightely, etc), but these ladies should be admired for a separate interest in fashion. They are not actresses and therefore stylish, they are actresses AND happen to be stylish. Just as I am a business student who happens to like fashion (I have many artist friends who are not innately stylish--they pay more attention to their paintings than their clothes).
So, to all the actresses who feel they must dabble in clothing lines, I am sorry for leading you to believe that as an actress you should be talented at fashion and design. The fault is entirely my own, next time focus on your craft rather than fleeting public opinion.
20 comments:
This is why I actually love Bjork's infamous swan dress, and her response to the entire thing:
“I can’t believe people are still talking about the swan dress…It was a joke. I find Hollywood dress sense very alienating. Obviously, I was sticking my tongue out at it...The weirdest thing is everybody thought I was trying to fit in but that I somehow got it wrong. Does it look like I was trying to fit in?”
Then again, if actresses and actors didn't wear pretty things to awards shows, there would probably be no reason for me to watch the awards.
I can't remember far enough back to a time when stars' clothes off-screen weren't picked apart thread-by-thread in the mags.
The Lauren Conrad bullshit make me mad....mostly because I know a lot of stupid people will buy it.
Most celebrity style is so alienating too because they can afford everything. If you have infinity dollars it takes no creativity or style at all to look halfway human.
And LiLo doing a leggings line? So typical it sounds like it could be a joke.
I am hoping, and I mean, really HOPING that the leggings line is a joke on the Fug Girls. Looks like Lilo finally decided to do something about the Fug Girls' obsession with her leggings. And it could not have been anything but leggings, right?
I am pretty sure there'd be enough people buying that stuff.
I agree. Acting and style aren't necessarily mutually exclusive, but it's wrong to expect it from all actresses. Certainly there are some poorly attired actresses out there.
I totally agree. I don't care about what an actress wears, like how much she weight or what she eats. They just have to act well!
And the Lohan leggings line is a joke! Who is seriously going to buy it?
Here here! A point that I think a lot people have gotten muddled up.... this is why I don't dabble in celeb fashion...it's an iffy pot of no man's land...
i think when you focus on someone's acting, then you only have the films to go on, but if you want to praise the person themselves off screen, you want to know more about them, and i guess style is the most inportant thing about a celebrity. i do think it's a bit too concentrated on, like how chloe sevingy's films are basically unknown, although she was nonimated for an oscar once, and people who admire her style may not bother to watch the films. super interesting post, as always!
I agree that an actress should be admired first and foremost by her talent, and if she happens to have great style, that's an added bonus, but her style shouldn't be her defining trait.
I also wonder who would we look up to for fashion inspiration if not for actresses? Of course there are the random models, politicians,writers,singers,artists etc, some of whom have great style, but generally these women are not in the limelight as much as actresses. I can't think of any woman whose fashion sense I admire who isn't an actress, except for Sophia Coppola. I think we focus so much on the style of actresses simply because they are women who get so much media attention. I also think actresses/celebrities use style to their advantage at times. For example take the Olsen twins, they haven't done much since their childhood acting days, but all of the sudden they were thrust in the limelight and offered modeling gigs, contracts,roles etc. due to their fashion sense, which got them recognized and established as "style icons" by the media.
Sorry this post was so long..I got a litte bit carried away.
I agree talent is the most important thing for an anctress, but lately in Hollywood the vast majority are model-look-like actresses. Chloë I think is more famous because of the fashion style than because of her films
i definitely agree with your statement "They are not actresses and therefore stylish, they are actresses AND happen to be stylish." In fact, I think that's why most of my "fashion icons" happen to be actresses first, stylish second- because I like to know that whoever I'm admiring actually has a job. I think that's why I'm not in love with the olsens, alexa chung, cory kennedy, because talent comes before fashion in my book.
This is a great post. I think too many people in hollywood today think they CAN multitask, be succesful at multiple endeavors that are in no way related. and what further upsets me is that most of these people are not talented at any of the things they try to do. oh wells, glad you brought this idea up!
I agree wholeheartedly, but I also think that people who are in any spotlight of sorts should put a decent amount of work into being presentable. After all, many actors are spokespeople for various causes and such, and it definitely helps to be presentable. However, our celebrity-obsessed culture has definitely become too critical of clothing and not what really matters, their acting.
This post got me thinking about this and I wrote a quasi-response to it. If you're interested check it out. http://thelaunderette.blogspot.com/2008/03/dont-hate-me-cause-im-famous-hate-me.html
...you speak the truth.
bravo bravo. I completely agree. i think there is too much emphasis on how celebrities dress, and therefor they all come off as too forced into their looks.
Very well said. Its US who turn them into designers. If we werent too busy gawking at their clothes and picking them apart, they would still be acting (take nots: Lindsay) and making better movies (again: Lindsay)
I think everyone should acknowledge this!!! Way too many people make celebrities items, and not human beings! It's a horrible thing to, I feel really sorry for people in the acting business becuase of these things. I love your fashion by the way!! totemo, kawaii desu~
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