Feminists Versus Fashionistas
March 8th 2009 00:42
Feminists Versus Fashionistas
Can there be a consensus between the two extremes?
Can you support womens' rights and be interested in fashion?
Well whether fullblown feminists or frantic fashionistas like it or not most of us try to balance the need to be politically active and aware with the need to adorn one's self!
I for one certainly see no reason I cant be interested in both!
But I am interested in fashion more from an artist's or even anthropological viewpoint!
There's no reason why feminists cant support manifestations of STYLE.
Like wise Fashionists need to show they've concerned with something other than linking status with what they wear.
I have not seen any blogs recently by any Orblers in the Fashion or other sections about the Pacifc Brands collapse and how that will effect Australian clothing. What is its not "haute couture" it doesnt count.
Conisder this both feminists and fashionistas maybe if Aussie designers formed more alliances with ready to wear AUSTRALIAN based manufacturers that might create more jobs with decent conditions LOCALLY and LESS use of underpaid outworkers?
Why we might have working clothes and ready to wear that's both comfortable functional and stylish produced by Australian workers with profit going to Australian workers and designers?
Fashion is not just haute couture or wearable art. It's about clothing!
Let us combine freedom of choice with sensible style.
Feminists need to inspire and encourage fashionistas to think about how sexist restricitive non functional clothing and shoes that can damage our backs and feet are and to persuade them "suffering for beauty" is not demonstrating freeedomof choice but folly and fashionistas need to show they're not vain heartless elitists and promote looks and fahsions that fit people and make as many people as possible look beautiful rather than vice versa.
Posted on IWD 2009 International Women's Day!
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Comment by Janet Collins
Acceptable Etiquette
The Social Critic
Janet Collins Blog
That is not to say female fashion can't be sexy and stylish. And that doesn't mean I don't have some feminist views of my own. Just because we are feminists does not mean we have to look dowdy.
Comment by Julie Vaux
Books Well Read
Strange Situations
The Purple Challenge
Too often fashionistas act like the clothes matter more than the people! As if the people should fit the clothing and not the other way around!
They forget what draws repeat customers is wearable style and a good fit!
Women feminists or not may end up buying more quality designer items cos they want wearable investments garments that last and stay in style!
I have seen too many fashion items that are basically tubes of cloth with ornament as if the choice of fabric and decorative pieces will hide the fact the designer knows nothing about sewing or seams!
As feminists and women and artists we need to create items that are wearable style!
Susie Cooper a famous ceramics designer had a design concept of elegance and utility. Her ceramics business survived the Depression and WW2!
She didnt outsource and always treated and trained her workers well.
By the way what do you think about the Pacific Brand fiasco?