FASHION

CO-EDITOR ELISE DIXON

Fashion

& POLITICS

ANONYMOUS

Fashion is a great tool in our day and age to promote political movements and inspiring action within society. From clothing that has cultural inspiration which displays culture in their most beautiful light. For generations, some cultures have been demonised, therefore, to have emerging designers who come from these demonised cultures to create beautiful art, to express its uniqueness and celebrate the culture.

Through inspiring movements and embracing cultures, it inspires younger generations to embrace their history rather than hide away from it. Movements and action come around when people stand up, especially those with a big platform. When things are considered “controversial” is usually when change is most needed.

The first ever black designed collection at Couture Fashion Week 2021, designed by Kerby Jean Raymond, his collection was inspired by inventions created by black inventors bringing light to history that has been hidden in the shadows for generations due to oppression. Fashion pieces inspired by Garrett Morgan, Oscar E. Brown, and George Washington Carver’s inventions as well as pieces inspired by black culture. This fashion runway explores black history and its erasure of it.

Political fashion runways are important as they spark conversations and address biases and institutional racism, homophobia, misogyny, and all other discrimination. Without these conversations, discrimination continues, and discrimination tends to thrive when the population is silent, and people don’t hold others accountable. Whilst at first thought you would not think fashion is important for political movements, it sparks conversations about topics that may not be able to be expressed as easily or show the pain of a group of people who have been discriminated against for generations.

Femininity & Fashion BY ELISE DIXON

Fashion is genderless and individuals can create and design whatever they wish to satisfy their hearts! Though fashion can be deemed to fit a feminine or masculine criteria. Femininity is defined as ‘qualities regarded as characteristic of women’ (definition taken from Google!).

Characteristics such as kindness, softness and compassion are seen as feminine traits. This can be translated through clothing through light/soft colours, flowing dresses and florals. Though all of these can be seen as the obvious translations. However not all girls want to identify with these translations. As well as boys liking and wanting to wear the “softer side to fashion”.

Clothing is genderless, and femininity doesn’t always have to correlate to sex, even though many people will use sex and gender irrespectively. With many people now discovering themselves and changing pronouns etc. Fashion is now freer of construct than ever (well more socially accepted).

Though with times changing as always, femininity in fashion is changing with the way women want to express themselves. Women are looking to stray away from the characteristics of clothing that are deemed feminine in order to empower themselves, almost to rebel against the criteria society has for people who identify with certain genders. Even those who wish to dress within the lines of feminine clothing as they feel it suits them best. It’s still valid. Feminine clothing is for everyone. Regardless of genders.

However you desire to dress is up to you. As long as you are expressing yourself and fulfilling your happiness. Fashion is for everyone, regardless of whether society deems an outfit more feminine or masculine!

HOW OFTEN DO YOU DRESS UP?

ANONYMOUS

I love to look my best often, though I tend to either look my best, or my worst and there isn’t really any in between for me!

I attend college and I’ll tend to always dress up more, so I feel confident rather than for an aesthetic reason. When I feel confident in myself, I’m more confident to answer in class or present my work, not to mention not being self-conscious. I find when I’m self-conscious, I can never really focus on what I’m working on, whether it’s homework or group projects. Though I can understand why some people decide to ‘dress down’ as there can come pressure from looking “good” all the time.

I do believe there should be a balance between looking good for confidence as well as being comfortable in clothing and not worrying about having to look good too, as I also believe confidence can come from just accepting your natural self too.

Confidence should always be built on how you feel about yourself rather than the approval of others, as striding for other opinions will never make a person truly happy. As well as it being an unrealistic standard. As everyone’s taste in clothing is different. But that’s the beauty of dressing up, as it’s about what makes you feel good… not other people’s happiness!

TATTOOS

ANONYMOUS Yes or No

I am a tattoo lover. Whilst I only have one so far, I would love to have more, and have always been a tattoo fanatic. Tattoos are incredible and artwork on your body you can keep with you forever!

You can represent yourself and your experiences through artwork which many artists do through paintings and drawings, but tattoos express your life experiences in such a unique way that isn’t seen in any other area of art.

Tattoo art I believe is underrated, as paper and other materials are so much easier to work with. But tattoo artists tattooing skin is a whole different level of skill. From taking into account its elasticity, and age, and managing to keep an image looking unchanged. Even when the skin is stretched, due to general movements made by an individual. I find it very hard not to see it as one of the most creative as well as the art that requires some of the most excellent and finetuned skills needed in order to produce something beautiful.

I understand that for some people tattoos do not appeal to them. Though for many art lovers in general, it is hard to deny the skill that is required to tattoo art onto someone’s body! So, to end this, tattoos get a yes from me!