MY PERSPECTIVE ON FASHION 2020

Most people have an expectation or guideline on how they view fashion. Some see it as a genre that is far away from their ideals or hobbies. Others may see it as a part of their lifestyle.

Starting at Condé Nast College, we were asked, "What is fashion to you?" We were asked to think individually about how we perceive and judge fashion. How we think about the industry and fashion media.

When it comes to fashion, I don't imagine the high glamour of runway shows or the sleek pages of Vogue fashion magazine (although these are important parts of fashion). I think about the designers and the organization that goes into producing each season's new wave of designs. I think about the history, and the meaning behind each piece of work. Perhaps fashion wasn't in my head a daily wear, but part of a lifestyle that incorporates recognizing creativity and meaningful work.

Today I met Suzy Menkes, editor of Vogue International, and I was extremely relieved that this was a perspective many people hold about the fashion industry. Suzy explained how she wished the business of fashion would slow down, and how she romanticized and even wished fashion went back to the old days where people would sit and enjoy a collection. Now, there is an ever need for speed, and consumers are seeking designs with fast expectations with journalists outputting article after article without taking a step back to thoughtfully review the designer's works.

In Suzy’s podcast, I listened to Maria Grazia Chiuri and Michael Kors discuss their perspective on this matter. While Maria spoke about how she expects fashion to continue moving at a fast pace; Michael commented how he wished fashion would be re-evaluated and slowed down. He said that the pandemic really shifted his way of thinking and gave him the breathing room to think about the meaning behind his work. Was there really a need to prepare a fashion show after fashion show before the next season's collection was even out? Are we outputting so much information that we aren't even consuming fashion with an appreciative mindset? What do we actually love about fashion?

Although fashion is a large part of business, it is also art. I always think that it's important to take a step back and think about the origins, the history, and appreciate the creativity before purchasing. Fashion was analogized by Suzy to classical music, as there are many who can't criticize something as beautiful as classical music; yet, people seem to feel fashion can be easily criticized without thought. It seems that many consumers today focus on output, rather than taking a step back to slowly appreciate the work of designers. To shift the focus of this, would undoubtedly show the details and artistry of several designer's works.

Of course, designers are well aware of the business of fashion. However, the pandemic has caused a shift in some of their mindsets as well as an appreciation when regarding the roots of their brand. Rather than first thinking of business before fashion, the pandemic has allowed some designers and journalists to consider fashion first.

Although this mindset may be highly idealistic, many designers and fashion innovators are encouraging consumers and people around the world to take a step back and truly think about what they love and enjoy. The fashion world, although highly monopolized and fast paced, still has their roots intact and their designers and creatives itching to bring meaning into the ever evolving world. Maria Grazia Chiuri, creative director of Dior, said, "Fashion is not just about how you look, it's about how you feel and how you think."

With a combination of success and optimism, I see fashion ever churning as deep, evocative, creative, detailed, and full of a desire to create and make a difference.

#fashion #fastfashion #forwardthinking #blogpost