As a feminist, fashionista, and feminist fashionista, this
article published in the Huffington Post style section is pretty disappointing.
While reading it, it was one alarm bell of annoyance after another. Here’s why:
- The tone is heteronormative as all hell. Some women
actually dress with the intention of attracting other women. Or a combination
of men and women. Or maybe no one! Imagine. The statement “Trends Guys Hate
(But Women Love)” presupposes that this is a relevant topic because perhaps we
should be more aware of men’s preferences.
- Brief, vague, and anecdotal “research.” One statement,
from one dude, criticizing a trend or style that is supposed to represent a
significant and noteworthy comment on What Men Hate. Lame. This may constitute the honest statements of a handful of men, but giving a platform to
the statements raises them to a level far beyond what they deserve.
- Reinforcing sexist judgments and prejudices. Most annoying
are:
“It's like hooker red lipstick.”
We’ll criticize you if you don't look sexy, and criticize
you more if you look too sexy!
"Definitely strapless bikinis, they just make your
shoulders look like a linebacker's."
Don’t look like a man. It’s not sexy.
"The return of our moms' high-waisted shorts is the
most unattractive recycled trend going on nowadays... It makes the fittest girl
look frumpy and the less fit girls look even more unfortunate."
Looking too much like a woman isn’t sexy! Moms can't be sexy!
Boys wear blue and girls wear pink. You’re a woman,
goddamnit, dress like one!
So many contradictory things goings on here. I think men
have a right to weigh in one women’s fashion as much as I can say I prefer a
certain look on men, but most of these testimonials are thoroughly sexist and
anti-feminist in a way that suggests women do and should care what they (men)
think. But it’s moreso reifying blanket stereotypes and judgments about women
based on how they dress. The same article comprised of women hating on other
women’s fashion choices would be almost as annoying.
Which leads to my next criticism. This article hinges on the
presumption that women care. Breaking news, ladies, men might not find your
peplum sexy! Better reconsider your entire presentation of self. And while
you’re at it, don’t look too big, too small, too young, too old, too girly, too
manly, too momly, etc.
I love fashion. I love clothes, shoes, accessories, jewelry,
hair, and makeup. I love new styles and trends and how my fashion evolves. But
I mostly love having long since moved past needing the approval of others, male
or female.
I love fashion, I love its journey and evolution in my life. I love the connection between my style and my personality.
ReplyDeleteAnd while I agree with what you are saying, when I saw this "article" some time ago and my thoughts hadn't gone as deep. They were more along "oh great, so some guy I don't know and I don't care about has an opinion on clothes he doesn't wear". Great. Move on.
Great post xxx
ReplyDeleteSharlotte xxx