Here's some thoughts on fashion I got after reading some of "The Philosophy of Fashion" by Lars Svenson. (I hope I got his name right) I didn't finish the book. It's in Norway. I will try to come across it again. I was inspired to read it from a conversation had where one of my friends was defending the idea that it is ok to by a 1000 dollar purse. I don't think it is. "There is a natural inclination of man to compare his behavior to that of a more important person. (a child compares itself to grown ups, or you to your favorite author, rockstar, celeb, etc.) in order to imitate that other persons ways." -Kant-
When the only reason for it is to not appear less important, then it is fashion that I don't like. Like a lower class person trying to look like they are a higher class.
There are 2 opperative principles here 1. Differentiation from others in your class (which I think is not so bad and can be individual expression/can be art) and 2. Imitation of the class above. (this I don't like at all. It's where the purchasing of symbols comes into play, and the concept of conspicuous waste or conspicuous consumption.) Any person engaged in this is a materialist and I find that so boring.
This person will confuse economic and aesthetic worth.
It's the need to conform vs. the need to express individuality.
1 comment:
One of my favorite quotes is by Thoreau: "Beware of all enterprises that require new clothes." I wanted to paint it over my closet at least 20 years ago--then I saw the movie "Room With a View" (from a book by E.M. Forster) in which one of the charactes was a man named "Emerson" who moves his furniture into a house--his furniture includes a large wardrobe and, lo and behold, there was the Thoreau quote painted at the top.
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"A man who has at length found something to do will not need to get a new suit to do it in; for him the old will do, that has lain dusty in the garret for an indeterminate period. Old shoes will serve a hero longer than they have served his valet -- if a hero ever has a valet -- bare feet are older than shoes, and he can make them do. Only they who go to soires and legislative balls must have new coats, coats to change as often as the man changes in them. But if my jacket and trousers, my hat and shoes, are fit to worship God in, they will do; will they not? Who ever saw his old clothes -- his old coat, actually worn out, resolved into its primitive elements, so that it was not a deed of charity to bestow it on some poor boy, by him perchance to be bestowed on some poorer still, or shall we say richer, who could do with less? I say, beware of all enterprises that require new clothes, and not rather a new wearer of clothes. If there is not a new man, how can the new clothes be made to fit? If you have any enterprise before you, try it in your old clothes. All men want, not something to do with, but something to do, or rather something to be. Perhaps we should never procure a new suit, however ragged or dirty the old, until we have so conducted, so enterprised or sailed in some way, that we feel like new men in the old, and that to retain it would be like keeping new wine in old bottles. Our moulting season, like that of the fowls, must be a crisis in our lives. The loon retires to solitary ponds to spend it. Thus also the snake casts its slough, and the caterpillar its wormy coat, by an internal industry and expansion; for clothes are but our outmost cuticle and mortal coil. Otherwise we shall be found sailing under false colors, and be inevitably cashiered at last by our own opinion, as well as that of mankind." H.D. Thoreau
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I went to "Skif" last week--it's a locally owned and operated clothing store which sells their own designs. Their clothes are unique and creative--you have to ask, "How does this go?" and they answer, "Any way you want." They also made the costumes for the second "Matrix" movie. I was wearing a T-shirt I bought at Walgreens for $2.00, with an iron-on transfer of Frida Kahlo that I made from a picture in a book, I cut the sleeves at an angle, cut a new neckline, and then cut a slit partway up the sides. Skif's owner, Nina, told me that I should sell them--with an investment of about $2.25 I created something that a successful clothing designer thought had good commercial possibilities. SO THERE, $1000-PURSE-BUYER!
Susan
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