Fashion is an industry that’s filled with tons of pretentious-ass-kissing people. It’s an industry that’s very difficult to get into as well – so the second when someone snubs his or her own corner, hell could break loose when something doesn’t go according to plan. I see it all the time. I’ve seen people run YouTube channels with a semi-successful following and suddenly garner a feeling of superiority, as if they’re the ultimate award-winning-fashion-icons who are untouchable by society. It’s all so utterly pretentious to me. I loathe it every second of it. I say walk around with your chin up when you’re photographing covers for Vogue Magazine or creative directing at Interview Magazine. Am I suggesting classism in some way? Am I suggesting that you look down on others based on stars? Of course not. But it’s only human nature for one to feel elevated, I am only suggesting you do it when a profile to back it up.
PS: I completely understand that the careers mentioned about aren’t the only jobs in fashion; I was being specific to be understood on the point I am trying to make.
Moving on.
After they reach their semi-successful following it’s as if no judgments can be made about them unless you’re Anna Wintour and it’s beyond exhausting to me. I don’t think you need to dress like Michael Jackson on tour on a day-to-day basis to have a critique on someone else’s style. Does it help? Probably. Is it mandatory? Definitely not. Fashion is all about point of view, not what you throw on your back — that’s style. (Fun quote by the one and only Mademoiselle Chanel: “Fashion fades, only style remains the same.”)
It’s intresting; Hollywood and the entire movie industry can be used as an analogy for fashion. In what way? Movie critics discuss and critique good and bad movies regardless of the fact that they don’t direct any in their lives. It’s what they do. Some people understand what goes well and what doesn’t. Quentin Tarantino can easily [verbally] attack many critics for their negative reviews on his films despite the fact that they’re all exemplary, but he doesn’t because he understands that it’s what critics do.
Additionally, not even the biggest designers in fashion dress anywhere near the way they design their fashion. Raf Simons practically lives in a button up and trench coat while Alexander Wang wears every black T-Shirt under the sun yet I’d probably still take their scrutinized opinions over Jeremy Scott who dresses as if he’s taken acid before leaving his house. See, this idea of “style = knowledge of fashion” is so depressing to me. I can say that I have an understanding of fashion because it’s an industry that I look deeply into. Do I need to dress like a trend-setting-fashion-icon to understand? No, someone who dresses in a highly fashionable way is because they enjoy it, not because they somehow need to prove a point to their audience that they know what they’re doing. However, if you can, do both!
