I read a post on my friend’s blog implying fashion is the death of individuality. In my opinion, that is completely and utterly false. As a clothing connoisseur myself, I just could not come to the conclusion his implicit theory was true. If, like he says, a rapper makes a style “pop off”, he believes people who then dress like said rapper, or cultural influence, lack individuality. I partially agree with this statement, but what he fails to realize is such people actually promote individuality. They present something of interest, which is new, fresh, resulting in an increased awareness about that style. Kanye didn’t set out for kaffiyehs to become popular. Some people love fitting in, others don’t. Some kaffiyeh purchasers thought it would be cool to look like Kanye. Others, presumably those who have a soft spot in their heart for fashion, thought “Wow, this works pretty well with this outfit, etc…”. I.e., they were NOT trying to conform. In fact, they sought to enhance their individual style by implementing this piece into their wardrobes. People on the outside looking in, so to speak, will not understand this. They’ll think “wtf, it’s 74 degrees out and everyone is wearing a scarf.” In addition, fashion is art, like it or not. You go into a store to buy pieces, and depending on how they look, how they’re worn, people want to buy them and have their own, similar to any other piece of visual art, like a painting.
As with modern fashion, there were movements in other art forms. During the Spanish Golden Age in the 16th century, most painters drew naked figures, as opposed to clothed ones with no shape, little humanity. Sure, there were a lot of naked Spaniards on people’s walls at that time, but not for lack of individuality. If you ask me, their individuality is paralleled with this notion of fashion because they, and we, want(ed) to express ourselves as best we could, given the medium. It’s important to note that people can only operate in what is possible. If perspective hadn’t been introduced, we wouldn’t see beautiful landscapes and realistically imposing structures made on oil and canvas we still see today. Similar to that, increasing the exposure of a type of clothing only increases the possibility that it will be worn well and refined by the fashionistas, some of the great thinkers of today. Avant-garde, bitches.
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