Fashion Fast

Balenciaga. Prada. Dior. Burberry. Alexander McQueen. YSL. Gucci. Chanel. So much money! So many followers. Why?

I have never been able to understand it, though as a theater person, I should. Fashion shows are a theatrical experience, but never quite get there, from my point of view. They offer all the cliches of theater without the substance--nothing you go home with is more than what you came with, and even what you came with can diminish after a fashion show. (Confidence, anyone)?

In a world where women are meant to look like boys, (and I do mean little boys), what is the point?

Okay, backing up a little here and trying to be less incendiary -- I admit to liking Alexander McQueen. Ridiculously expensive, yes, but at least the clothes I see are for women, even those with curves. As someone who grew up in a land where thin was always in, there was nothing I could ever do -- being a women with curves -- that would be remotely fashionable.

And yet, as they say in the movies (or somewhere) - fashion is supposed to be fun, right? Can anything that takes itself so damnably seriously ever be fun? I don't know. I had a few years where I was head-over-heels in love with Norma Kamali, mainly because her clothes actually fit me and I looked good in them. And of course, my (now departed) mother would pay for said clothes, if I asked enough. 

Last week, I read about the Balenciaga shows and looked at the article's pictures, SMH. I just don't get how any women could believe anything in that collection would look good on her. Unless she was a 14 year old boy, and then I suppose some of it would? But would that be worth the price tag?

Why are women expected to buy and wear expensive clothes? I thought the gown I bought for my son and daughter-in-law's wedding was expensive, and it was $350. Imagine two more zeros on there and we're approaching fashion-show style.

My favorite outfit growing up was jeans, a leotard, and big, hoopy earrings - the favorite outfit of my leading character in The Beat on Ruby's Street. Long black dresses or skirts and leotards work too, and I still like them. What I decided lately is that what women really need as they're growing up is to learn how to walk and talk.

By walk I don't mean the struts we see in fashion shows. I mean walking into a room with what actors and directors call presence--signifying you are someone, mainly because you believe you are.

By talking, I mean using your voice in a way that conveys expressiveness and warmth.

Walking and talking this way don't compromise your individuality. They help you own it.

That's
my diatribe this week, even though -- God help me - I still like Alexander McQueen. And though I'm not in love with Balenciaga, I have to admit - it's an extremely cool name.

Photo by  Amanda Vick on Unsplash