This Fashion Stuff?
I have found myself countless times having to justify my interest in fashion. There is a stark contrast between those who love fashion and those who think it is a waste of time. What fuels this hatred towards fashion is the stereotypes that come with having an interest in fashion. To name a few, vanity, displays of wealth, wasting money, fashion is for one type of person, and fashion is just trends, are all stereotypes of fashion lovers. These stereotypes are generalizations that are not always accurate, as proven by recent strides in inclusivity in fashion campaigns and on the runway. Now more than ever, models of all sizes, genders, and races are included in the fashion industry. Fashion does not always have to be expensive or a display of wealth. To some, fashion is used for that express purpose, as evident by highly branded clothing items from luxury designers. But there is a whole other side to fashion that doesn't come with a price tag featuring countless zeros. Personally, I have found myself way more excited about a 5.99$ blazer from value village than any Louis Vuitton logo bag. Despite the majority of these stereotypes evidently being false, people continue to hate the fashion industry, and community as a whole.
To all those who hate fashion, I hate to break it to you, but you too are part of the fashion industry, believe it or not.
The film, The Devil Wears Prada, encapsulates the contrast between fashion lovers and anti-fashion characters. The film centers around a young journalist named Andrea (Andy) Sachs who takes a job working for a fashion magazine as the editor-in-chief, Miranda Priestley's assistant. Many theories about the film suggest that the character of Miranda is meant to embody stereotypes of the Queen of Fashion herself, Anna Wintour, EIC of Vogue Magazine. From their cold demeanor, chic style, intense work ethic, and high status in the fashion community, the similarities between the two are uncanny. The likeness of Anna Wintour seen in Miranda gives the film an authentic feel and showcases how the world perceives those working in the fashion industry. The film gives viewers a peek into the usually closed doors of the fashion industry.
Andy starts off as a fashion hater, but a transformation occurs throughout the film as Andy develops a love and appreciation for fashion. My inspiration for this article came from a powerful monologue delivered by Miranda to Andy during a fitting when Andy is caught laughing at Miranda for deciding between two belts that look nearly identical. Andy tells Miranda that she thinks all "this stuff," implying fashion as a whole, is stupid, and she doesn't understand all the fuss. Miranda says the following and puts Andy in her place, sparking Andie's epiphany, leading her to a different perspective on what fashion is:
“This... stuff? Oh, ok. I see, you think this has nothing to do with you. You go to your closet and you select out, oh I don’t know, that lumpy blue sweater, for instance, because you’re trying to tell the world that you take yourself too seriously to care about what you put on your back. But what you don’t know is that that sweater is not just blue, it’s not turquoise, it’s not lapis, it’s actually cerulean. You’re also blindly unaware of the fact that in 2002, Oscar de la Renta did a collection of cerulean gowns. And then I think it was Yves St Laurent, wasn’t it, who showed cerulean military jackets? And then cerulean quickly showed up in the collections of eight different designers. Then it filtered down through the department stores and then trickled on down into some tragic Casual Corner where you, no doubt, fished it out of some clearance bin. However, that blue represents millions of dollars and countless jobs and so it’s sort of comical how you think that you’ve made a choice that exempts you from the fashion industry when, in fact, you’re wearing the sweater that was selected for you by the people in this room. From a pile of stuff.”
Miranda is right. A person who may believe that they have no part in the fashion industry is, in fact, wrong. We are all cogs in the machine that is the fashion world. Consumerism plays a significant role as well. Trends fuel the need for the latest item and ensure that fashion lovers will continue to buy new clothes to feed their need to stay stylish. But even those not interested in staying on trend are also players keeping the fashion industry alive. Social media has taken consumerism to a whole new level. With a few scrolls on Instagram or TikTok it is impossible to avoid advertisements especially when technology allows for ads to tailor specifically to each individual. At the end of the day, we are all consumers. Whether buying a t- shirt at Target or Walmart or a designer item, each purchase connects us to the fashion industry. No consumer is above or below another.
Fashion is so much more than clothes. Fashion is a vast industry supplying numerous jobs and generating millions in revenue. The fashion industry is no less economically significant than any other industry. Fashion is an art, and designers are artists. Davinci has the Mona Lisa, and Hermes has the Birkin. Designers will spend their lives creating one piece or building a brand that will spark trends or become a classic, just as artists spend their lives on one masterpiece.
Fashion is innovation. From fashion shows to engineering to integrating technology into clothing and accessories, fashion is a massive outlet for creation. In recent years fashion shows have become a huge opportunity to showcase all a brand has to offer, beyond its clothing. Designers have been utilizing architecture, engineering, and technology in their shows to emulate the brand's image through extravagant fashion shows.
Fashion can be uniting or polarizing. The uproar an item of clothing can cause in the fashion community is astonishing. Fashion can be political, as exemplified by AOC at the 2021 Met Gala or by Vivienne Westwood through her fashion shows centering around climate change. Fashion IS much more than material items.
Rather than cogs, we, the consumers, are the fuel that keeps the fashion industry running. Fashion is only something when people buy, observe, and critique. Despite a person's level of interest in the industry, everyone is fueling fashion. Buying any piece of clothing, no matter where, from Target or a consignment store, that piece has a story. As highlighted in the monologue from The Devil Wears Prada, the fashion industry is all connected. Designs seen on the runway will inevitably trickle down into fast fashion stores to be mass produced for everyday consumers. Therefore, we are all a part of fashion, interested in it or not.
‘This Stuff’ Scene, The Devil Wears Prada, 2006
Illustration by: Sam Andersen
