To fashion or not to fashion

Steph over at 3 Hours Past the End of the World, has had a interesting blog on fashion and in particular how a youthful rebel comes to terms with working (and dressing) in the real world.  This may not make it easier, but as we grow older, the need to rebel seems less important as much as it does to be respected and taken seriously in our world - whether that's business, motherhood, volunteer or any other field.

I found this interview on Wall Street Journal very interesting talking about how mothers addressing certain fashion trends and decisions of their daughters.

  

And while this may not solve the eternal dilemma - to rebel or not to rebel - it at least tries to address it even if it's just to talk about the subject a little.

For me and my clients, albeit it's always on the formal side of life, it's all about looking pretty, and although I'm sensitive to each girl's desire to be different if not rebel, I'm as sensitive to the mom's desire to remain appropriate for a formal and usually conservative event.  This always seems to be on the side of gaining the maximum amount of attention by being pretty rather than rebeling.

As an unspoken rule from me, I will always veer from the Emperor and his new clothes - fashion for the sake of fashion has never been my style and the wonderful classic style that brought Vera Wang all her attention and fame.  That style is still grand today - Audrey Hepburn, Coco Chanel, Vera Wang, all had that classic style.

Today, when I dress for my day it usually has to do with what is on my calendar. 

• If I have to talk to professionals and conduct business, I'm in a suit with my high heels and totally knocked out.  I don't want to have to repeat myself or get nasty in the meeting and walking in dressed like Alexis Carrington does all of that for me. 
• If I'm haunting country flea markets look for vintage this or that, I'm dressed just this side of the vagabond  - well kept, but very low key. 
• If I'm dressing for jury duty downtown, I'm dressed to the nines and ready for business - I treat our local law enforcement and judicial system with the respect they deserve. 
• If I'm on my way to Home Depot to look for this thingamajig that I could have sworn I got enough but didn't and not sure where it is, I'll dress up a little - I get better service. 
• If I want to browse Home Depot, I'll be low-key so I'll be left alone!

It works every time.  If I'm dressed up - I get all the service I want, if not, I'm left alone.  When I got to a large metro area store to scoop out clothing, I'm nicely dressed, but not knocked-out and I'm left alone. 

We can sit around and rail against it, complain about it, rebel against, it, but the truth is: dress up and get attention one way, and dress down, and get it another.  We may not like it, but it is the way of the world.

So clothes do make the man(woman), naked people have little or no influence on society.

Comments

[Bunny]

Spot on! One thing I learned from a lifetime in sales is that it is all about perception. It doesn't matter what the reality is if the other person perceives you as being incapable of bringing your A game. And the way we dress feeds that perception. I totally agree.

[Carol]

Enjoyed your comments and the video. I've been thinking about this subject quite a bit lately as I see more and more women with extensive visible tatoos. Since I am usually one or two generations older than they are, I question whether my feelings, that they are limiting their opportunities for success in later life, are valid or just old fashioned.

[ClaireOKC]

I think part of the reason we are returning to "pretty" side of the fashion pendulum (other than it's about time) is that we've reached a point where what taboo or boundary hasn't been overturned or broken...nudes walking down the runway, tattoos all over our bodies, men walking down the runway wearing womens' clothing - at what point does this reach the absurdity of "The Emperor's New Clothes?" Thank heavens for pretty!

[Jo Ann Williams]

You are soooo correct!! I also dress differently according to the occasion, and for that very reason!!

[Brenda Bocca]

You are so right! If you are dressed up, you get more attention and service. I love fashion! It influences people and they don't even realize it half the time!