Fashion & Feminism: A (Gay) Male's Perspective

Image via Rosea Lakes

Are fashion and feminism mutually exclusive? Are you still considered a feminist if you wear Fendi? Is it possible to be fashion forward while fighting for equal rights and treatment?

There is a great deal of debate of whether putting the word fashion next to feminism is a contradiction in itself or not. Part of the objection is based on the problem of the fashion industry's promotion of its idyllic version of beauty and femininity. One that portrays an image of a vivacious, seemingly all-together, woman with great hair and porcelain skin, and a near size 24 waist. In short, if not unattainable, then an unrealistic, image of what an average healthy woman should be. 

On the other hand, it is almost too easy to point all fingers to the fashion and beauty industries and blame them both for the majority of self-esteem and physical issues that many women (of all ages) face today. While I'm not saying that the industry's hands are completely clean, the problem stems from a seemingly more widespread source. 

Fashion TV

Fashion is one of the few artistic disciplines that have successfully managed to permeate through several mediums of communication and entertainment. Much like photography or art, fashion can be seen on the street, in print and more recently, online. Not only does this say something about fashion and how incredibly versatile it can be, it also says something about our society and how we utilize fashion as a daily component of our lives. Thus, it was only a matter of time until fashion, being the prevalent force that it is, took over one of the most popular and most effective mediums of communication in our society: tv.

While television might not be the same influential piece of technology as it once was, it still is relevant. And much like fashion, the one thing that has made television relevant is that it has managed to adapt to the ever-changing landscape of entertainment: It has evolved from a simple machine into a technological advancement, able to cater to the many needs of its user(s), sometimes simultaneously, all with the push of a button, making it a staple in most American households.

Beneath the Gloss / Fashion As Art

Back in high school, when I was still taking Art class, I remember working on different collages for my portfolio. For some reason, I would usually gravitate towards very controversial topics for my artwork, and would usually focus on using very graphic and explicit images. I remember looking through my teacher's boxes of old National Geographic magazines for these images, hoping to find either an emaciated orphan, a three-legged stray animal, or if I'm lucky, an image of both set against a backdrop of some war-torn third world country.

Image via One Graphics/Phillip Toledano

Looking back, I guess the reason I would do this is because I equated good art with "shocking art". I thought that the more gory and more disfigured my subjects were, the more I'd be able to fool my peers into thinking that I'm actually good at making art. It didn't take long until people saw right through my plan.

In the same boxes that I'd be looking through, I would come across a different kind of magazine. Surprisingly, this magazine would contain images that would be just as vivid, just as striking, and in some cases, just as compelling (sometimes more so) as the images I would see in other notable magazines. However, unlike those pictures, these images focused on a more heightened sense of reality, which was particularly interesting to me.

I would later learn that these were fashion magazines, and the images that caught my attention were posed and artificial. However true, these qualities did not make these images less beautiful nor less valid. To me, they were art. And to this day, I still consider them as art.

We ❤ the 90's

Pulling inspiration from music and fashion icons like Kurt Cobain, Courtney Love, Gwen Stefani (from the No Doubt years) and films such as Dazed and Confused, Kay and Ken perfectly illustrate the combined effects of indifference and mistrust of authority, teenage angst, and general disillusionment of the nineties. Set in our old high school Alma Mater (what could be more 90s than that?), the duo dons the grunge fashion that was prevalent and defining of an entire generation. Photographed by Noelene Gacis. Edited by Jon Rosario. (For full photoshoot, click link below.)

In Defense of Celebrity-Turned-Designers

Image via GQ Australia, July 2006

Victoria Beckham, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Jessica Simpson, Gwen Stefani, Rachel Zoe, even Kanye West.

You've probably heard of these names. If not all, probably separately, individually. Some  of these people are associated with film/tv, others with music, some even cross-over to both genres. But there's another thread that connects all of these people together, however loosely knit, and that is fashion.

Celebrities have always been in the forefront of fashion. In many ways, celebrities have helped launch several clothing brands and continue to drive the fashion cycle. They are part PR, part trendsetter, and some part fashion icons. Today, celebrities have evolved to become synonymous with current fashion.

So it's no surprise that some have ventured into a different sphere of fashion, the business side. Whether it be Victoria Beckham's eponymous label, or Gwen Stefani's L.A.M.B., or the Olsen sisters' the Row, all of these celebrities have managed to permeate within all levels of fashion (from mass retailers to designer) and have done so successfully, with little to no signs of stopping.

Creativity v. Innovation

Image via Christopher Raeburn

Back when I first started my last semester in college, one of the questions raised by my professors really stuck to me. She posed this question to the whole class, comfortably and curiously: "Is there a difference between creativity and innovation?"

The whole class was silent at first, as how most classes seemed to go. And then, slowly, a hand was raised.

"Yes," a student said, "Being creative usually applies to fine art or fashion, while being innovative usually is associated in the tech industry."

While somewhat true, you can tell that that wasn't quite the answer my professor was looking for. Other students ventured a guess, saying that "Being creative meant that you're able to create something beautiful and interesting, while being innovative meant that you're creating something that people have not seen before."

Technically speaking, if you looked up the definitions of both words, you would find something similar: According to the dictionary, the word "creative" meant "having original ideas," while the word "innovative" meant "introducing new and advanced ideas." In fact, the two words seem so similar that if you look up either word in a thesaurus, the other word would come up as a synonym.

However, what my professor wanted to point out is that there is a very important difference between the two. And it is what sets apart designers, brands, stores, PR firms, lawyers, colleges, schools, corporations, and other institutions from each other.

A Note from the Editor

Hello. This is a blog created by me, Jon Rosario. I wanted to create a place where people can have a real and in-depth conversation about fashion. Fashion, with all its bells and whistles, can be a very intimidating and/or frivolous topic for some, and unfortunately, a lot of people dismiss it or avoid the subject entirely for that same reason. I wanted to deconstruct the subject and peel away the many superficialities that intimidate people and make fashion more accessible. I want to start a dialogue about the many facets of fashion; about ideas and inspiration, brands and designers (both renowned and up-and-coming), the business behind it, the future of fashion, fashion now and how it currently affects our culture and vice versa.

More importantly, I wanted to create and nurture a place of adult and meaningful discussion between fashion insiders and fashion inquisitors. People who have been in the industry talking to people who are not, but are curious and interested. By doing so, I hope to reach a middle ground where people can talk about current events and issues and put fashion in the context that everyone can relate to. 

Having only been in the industry for less than 5 years, I don't claim to be an expert on the subject. In fact, I hope to learn from my readers as much as I hope to change someone's opinions on fashion. But in its simplest form, this blog is a glorified fan club. At the end of the day, I'm just a fan of fashion and I want to hear from people who are just as passionate and just as excited about the subject. 

Everybody has a point of view about fashion and I sincerely hope that you'll share yours.