Sunday, December 10, 2006
Fashion = Class
In response to a previous comment i would like to point out how not only does our fashion help to form and shape our identity, but it also places us within certain social and economic classes. For instance, it was brought up that if someone was unable to afford the clothes that would help him show his personality then his ability to form his own identity is restricted. Yet, if he can not afford those clothes, then his identity is being form by that very circumstance. The type or "brand" of clothing these days is quite the determining factor in how people view you and your wealth.
When we see someone who has on clothing that is seen as not being as "cool" as what everyone else is wearing then that person is classified...identified by their peers and put into categories. These categories that one is a part of, is what one uses to describe themselves and therefore is what their identity is, regardless if it portrays one's personality or not. Thus fashion is what creates us and our identities. This proves that as much as we think that we are the one's creating fashiona dn setting the trends, it is fashion that is creating us and our identities.
When we see someone who has on clothing that is seen as not being as "cool" as what everyone else is wearing then that person is classified...identified by their peers and put into categories. These categories that one is a part of, is what one uses to describe themselves and therefore is what their identity is, regardless if it portrays one's personality or not. Thus fashion is what creates us and our identities. This proves that as much as we think that we are the one's creating fashiona dn setting the trends, it is fashion that is creating us and our identities.
Monday, December 4, 2006
Identity: Does our consumption patterns determine who we are?
Have you ever thought of the things you buy in respect to the person you are??? Or the ways in which your things determine the way others see you??? According to Storey we communicate through what we consume. Consumption is our dress rehearsal. Our performance is an everyday occurrence changing daily based on our attitude and moods. Through our performance people can connect with us through our cultural identity and social pattern.
So lets think about this.. what was the last piece of fashion or clothing you have purchased??? For me the last item I purchased was a pair of wedge open toe Steve Madden shoes for thanksgiving. Through the purchase of my shoes I created an identity for myself. Identity is something that is constructed and always in a process of becoming, but never complete. I can change my identity to fit my mood and attitude of any given performance. My shoes were the finishing touch of my identity and the image I wanted to convey for myself at that given stage of production. Identities are, therefor, a form of "production" rather than the consumption of a fixed legacy. Fashion allows individuals to present themselves in such a way that they are constantly changing through their life long performance. Fashion continues the process of constantly becoming rather than being.
On any given day I can choose an outfit that best fits my mood. It can either be sweat pants and a sweatshirt or jeans and a cute top based on the places i will be going and doing. Through fashion my identity is made in circumstances and conditions since we cannot make identity alone we need fashion to help us be the person we want to be on stage.
So lets think about this.. what was the last piece of fashion or clothing you have purchased??? For me the last item I purchased was a pair of wedge open toe Steve Madden shoes for thanksgiving. Through the purchase of my shoes I created an identity for myself. Identity is something that is constructed and always in a process of becoming, but never complete. I can change my identity to fit my mood and attitude of any given performance. My shoes were the finishing touch of my identity and the image I wanted to convey for myself at that given stage of production. Identities are, therefor, a form of "production" rather than the consumption of a fixed legacy. Fashion allows individuals to present themselves in such a way that they are constantly changing through their life long performance. Fashion continues the process of constantly becoming rather than being.
On any given day I can choose an outfit that best fits my mood. It can either be sweat pants and a sweatshirt or jeans and a cute top based on the places i will be going and doing. Through fashion my identity is made in circumstances and conditions since we cannot make identity alone we need fashion to help us be the person we want to be on stage.
Monday, November 27, 2006
Conformity as Addiction
Pink encrusted A-Pockets... vintage wash... distressed look... $$$200...C stamped purse... 925... Tiffany and Co. Jewelry..... topped off with $1000... Strappy... Stiletto... Jimmy Cho's......
How often are we shown images of fashion???? But what is really fashion? Is it downtown LA EMO Chic or is it Couture???
We are living in the culture of the mass. We crave the drug called fashion. As humans we have evolved, through industrialization, and have become trapped by society's influence, on what we are cultured to see as fashionable. Who's to say that the A-pocket Jean and the C encrusted jean is fashionable? Why aren't the $30 jeans and costume jewelry the fashion that everybody is desiring. It all depends on your taste and your take in the consumer based culture that we call FASHION.. but all of these points of interests are influenced by society and what it views as being fashionable, "cool". Therefore it seems that no one person can every achieve their own personal take on what is fashionable because ones decision on what is fashionable is determined by society.
How often are we shown images of fashion???? But what is really fashion? Is it downtown LA EMO Chic or is it Couture???
We are living in the culture of the mass. We crave the drug called fashion. As humans we have evolved, through industrialization, and have become trapped by society's influence, on what we are cultured to see as fashionable. Who's to say that the A-pocket Jean and the C encrusted jean is fashionable? Why aren't the $30 jeans and costume jewelry the fashion that everybody is desiring. It all depends on your taste and your take in the consumer based culture that we call FASHION.. but all of these points of interests are influenced by society and what it views as being fashionable, "cool". Therefore it seems that no one person can every achieve their own personal take on what is fashionable because ones decision on what is fashionable is determined by society.
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