Good grief.
Maybe I am way too opinionated for my own good. Maybe I am totally ignorant of what fashion is and isn't. Maybe I'm simply too dense to "get it". But after watching the Oct. 22 episode of Project Runway, I have to say I'm proud that I'm apparently "clueless."
Some things really stuck out to me tonight.
To begin, the comment "Those weren't fashion, those were clothes." Wh-wh-WHAT? I guess I don't know anyone that wears anything fashionable then, because in my world clothes are fashion. The people I know may not be able to afford the upscale clothing that is marketed as "fashion" nowadays, but in the end it's still clothing. And I think Michael Khors's comment illustrated a major problem with the fashion industry today: people are too independent today to be told what "fashion" is and isn't. People wear what they like, and what they feel makes them look good. And other people's opinions about that are becoming less and less important... We are in the era of "ur-Fashion", and the quicker the fashion industry realizes that the better off they will be...
Everyone that I know grew up in an era when waves of different fashion expressions each held the stage at different times... Grunge, Goth, Rockabilly, Punk, Glam, Annie Hall, Laura Ashley, Retro, etc.--all of them extremes in their own right. Wearing an "extreme" isn't so unusual anymore. People wear what's appropriate for particular situations, what they happen to like, or simply what makes them feel good. That is not dictated by a Fashion Council anymore, it's dictated by what's available and one's own sense of personal taste.
Having 4 panelists passing down judgements about what looks good and what doesn't somehow strikes me as profoundly backward and prideful for some reason... There is a fashion style out there for everyone's tastes now--it's too late to make blanket pronouncements regarding what's "fashionable" anymore... Mass media has blown that privilege out of the hands of a select few and thrust it securely into the consumer's. Witness the variety of looks on Style.com, the plethora of fashion magazines, the prominence of online clothing purchases, the DIY/Handmade movement... The overly simplistic era of "colors for the season" (for example) has evaporated in the face of a new dynamic that is much too individual for any pat dictates to be credible anymore...
This episode demonstrated one thing to me: Mila Jovovich was the only judge that was humble enough to admit that her opinion was just her opinion, while the rest of the judges apparently continue to believe they actually have a tack on what the general populace thinks is good and bad fashion. They may be in positions of power and authority, but I don't think that means their ideas are better or more relevant than anyone else's anymore, especially in today's society. It simply means they've demonstrated some talent and ability, someone believed in them, and they played their cards right to get to where they are. Tim Gunn summed it up perfectly at the end of the episode: "Personal tastes."
I may be coming off a bit harsh, and that's certainly not my intention. But I do believe that our concept of what is fashionable has changed forever because of our new ability to cater to our own desires and preferences that has developed in this era of global communication. And regarding Project Runway specifically--I am not sure that the ability to meet 4 judges standards and complete an artificial challenge qualifies a person to be called a legitimate fashion designer anymore... Given what's happened to our contemporary world with the advent of the internet and the freedom of choice it offers, I'm not sure if fashion is as relevant as it used to be...
Can't we just make stuff that we like and try hard to find others who like it enough to buy it? Maybe our creations and creativity aren't what's "wrong", maybe it's our ability to find the right consumers for it... And maybe we should stop worrying about what's fashionable and start thinking about wearing what makes us happy... Because honestly, folks, is the stamp of approval of out of touch fashionistas really what we should be striving for? And ultimately, is our quest for personal relevance reliant upon someone else to pronounce that we've acquired it?
I guess I have too much faith in individuals to express themselves to believe that...
Anyway. Whew! This was a mouthful! LOL! Until next time, live life with Relish!
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