It appears that fashion over time has become society's scapegoat for all things evil within consumption and such other areas outside of necessity. Fashion is a luxury in parts. I mean clothes are not a 'treat' they are kind of erm, essential. Unless you are a nudist. But we all know how little they count...
It's an industry that is built upon people's desires to look good/acceptable/sexy/etc....but it works and it's booming. So they're doing something right. It's understandable that when faced with problems in the world, fashion seems soul-destroying, it seems harsh and unnecessary. It looks frivolous and uncaring to the world and it's problems. But it's not. It's an outlet. It is not an industry made to help politics, or to solve world debt or to stop those kids drinking down the estate at 15; but it's also not just designed to make front rower's 'oooh' and 'aaah' at any old shite that's thrown down a catwalk. It's intricate and a lot of work is put in. From PRs, journalists, stylist, designers, photographers, editors, buyers, merchandisers, the lot.
Some of it's fantasy and fun, couture is a perfect example of people putting blame on 'unnecessary' and 'unwearable' fashion. Correct? No. If those people took five minutes to understand the history of couture and it's legacy
(it would also explain Daphne Guiness <---- legend)
then they would realise why it still exists. I don't understand cricket. But I understand why people (might) enjoy it. I don't particularly have too much of an opinion on Politics, because I don't know enough. So my mouth stays shut. But because people think fashion is an easy target, and it's not 'clever' they feel they can mock it.
Tanya Gold wrote a snarling, pent-up rant against fashion recently. Point taken.
"Put simply, I hate fashion. I scowl at Harper's. I snarl at W. I spit at Vogue. Sometimes, I tear them up, these glossy pages full of anorexic children – part human, part makeup, part computer program –I find this quote amusing. I think she's right. But I flick through Harpers, W and Vogue delightfully. I am, as ever, bemused as the chunk of advertising for clothes you can't afford takes up the most content (after paying the best part of a fiver) and the perfect models. But I don't think anyone really sits there, (like in Christina Aguilera's 'Beautiful' video) with a conscious mind and belittles themselves because they aren't airbrushed up to their eyeballs. Getting mad at models? It's kind of, oh I don't know; their job. It's their choice, damn their beauty, fuck they're skinny, but it's a business. And it's damn good advertisers. Enticing, making people want what they don't have. Conspicuous Consumption. And again? A job.just because I'm worth it. Then I put a colander on my head."
Its development from a necessity to a luxury consumption is a fine line, and one that the fashion industry crosses (obviously) but they cross it to create a business; to function. Just like any other business, it pushes itself to the limit within all aspects. Although it probably doesn't take full responsibility for crocs.
Fashion is a creative industry, just like art, theatre, music and dance, people seem to find it unfathomable that something people enjoy doing in their usual 'downtime' is someone else's job. Just because they aren't stuck at a desk, 9-5, working with the cast of the Office in a building from the 60s, doesn't mean their job isn't worthwhile. I see jealousy of people who aren't creative enough to get up from that swivel chair and do something they enjoy. Get a job you love, and you'll never have to work a day in your life.
People sneer at 'creative' universities and the like, because they don't spit out toffs with backwards thinking, a severe lack of social ability and facts that will endear no one. They are enabled to encourage the Mandi Lennards and the Stuart Vevers, the Tim Walkers and the Richard Nicolls.
Basically, I could go on for hours. I probably haven't worded this right. But people who stick their noses up at fashion because it is hollow and a waste of time are just wrong. It's such an innovative mechanism that is fast becoming an integral part of society. There are negative involved in fashion, but aren't we just nit picking there?
Fashion is saying something without saying anything. End.
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