bits and bobbins

fashion (versus) style

i’ve been doing a lot of thinking about fashion versus style lately…as i sort of alluded to in my previous post concerning the fall 2007 fashion shows and my lack of interest in them.

after participating in the whole fashion school thing last year, and working in the industry to a degree, i have found myself asking a lot of questions, and questioning the whole fashion and style “industry” as a whole, and how fashion and style work together, and how they are opposed.

when i think fashion, i often think of big business, about the hollow drive to make profits, often at the expense of human beings: the human beings that make those products in some far off country, the human beings that think they NEED to acquire those products because they feel they must be considered “current”. not to mention the toll this consumption takes on the planet, due to impact of certain production methods and pollution that results from that production and the disposal of discarded clothing and related products. not all companies and creators have this sort of impact, but there are many that do. at times, fashion is a concept or construct that seems huge, meta, a big shell, or umbrella.

i do buy things, i do follow fashion, design and style to a degree, but philosophically, i keep coming back to championing personal style. when i think “style” i think of the concept of a creative individual, implying *one* and in that i see authenticity, realness, and personality. i think of something that is completely unique, though it may be similar to other things in some manner. i think of something that is human, and small and precious.

so, some quick thoughts. nothing here is cut and dry. nothing is black and white. but even so, i feel like i want to articulate what i see as differences between the fashion industry as whole, as an industry, and the style of an individual, a person. this all comes from the fact that i have a desire to ask questions, to foster and spark a discussion. i feel i need to attempt to think about clothing, style, fashion in more than a “i want this and nothing more” sort of manner. i want to achieve moderation in my consumption and want to temper my desire for objects with intelligent consideration and thought. i’m positive i’ll add more to these thoughts over time, and i reserve the right to change my mind. i just feel the need to dump out the contents of my brain, as i am wont to do on occasion…

***

fashion is…letting retailers, designers, magazines and other large companies whose main aim is to profit set trends for you to follow.

style is…setting your own trends, following your own muse, influencing other people with your creativity and confidence.

fashion is…letting others do the thinking for you.

style is…thinking about everything. asking questions, taking chances. looking at oneself honestly. being fearless, being experimental within the construct of your own life and your own closet.

fashion is…something that changes seasonally, in a regimented way, driven by big business and the need to make you feel you need to acquire something new.

style is…something that evolves, matures, and changes over varied amounts of time, influenced and inspired by your age, gender, culture, nationality, geographic locale, interests, subculture, politics, religion, and a myriad of other factors.

fashion is…often mass produced, in multiples, not unique, not authentic.

style is…as individual and completely unique as the DNA that resides in each of us on this planet. no two people can look at the world, and by extension, the building blocks of their closet or wardrobe, in the same exact manner.

fashion is…strictly looking at the magazines/celebs/websites/whatever and copying a “look”.

style is…somewhat about doing it yourself, being creative (either making it yourself, or if you lack the dexterity, mixing what you do have in a creative, inspired manner). this relates to the individualism of style, as stated above.

fashion is…keeping up with the “trends” of the season. implying you are behind the curve instead of ahead of it.

style is…not giving a shit if there is a trend at all, or if so, following only those that make sense to you personally, considering the shape of your age, your body, your lifestyle, your likes and dislikes.

***

what do you think? what makes fashion and style different? or are they same thing? what is fashion? what is style?

also…why is style hard to define? is it because it is so personal and individual? what makes someone exude amazing personal style? what is the magic ingredient that makes someone inherently stylish?

i implore you to add to this any thoughts you might have.

***

clothing is more than just the threads you envelop yourself in. it implies much and speaks volumes.

February 22 2007 | Posted in fashion musing

Comments

19 total remarks on this post.

  1. February 22 2007 at 4:49 pm

    Nadia Lewis

    Amen!


  2. February 22 2007 at 6:20 pm

    LibraStar

    It is amazing that you wrote this article, all your thoughts are really well put and extremely reflective of my own state of thoughts and the stage that I am going through in my career.

    I am in a process of switching my profession from a Web Developer/Designer to a Fashion designer. The decision root from a simple fact that I would like to have my own business that I will enjoy working on my whole life. I came to the conclusion that I would like to make&find&sell clothes and related items I enjoy.

    Through the journey of pursuing this dream, I came across the same questions about fashion – how a lot of them would mass produce, copy some trends in order to sell. How disposable clothing could be…does the world need another fashion designer? What good does it make to the world? Is there any impersonal value to this dream?

    In a fashion designer point of view, how do they strike a balance in producing their design? Is it possible to actually make contribution to the environment while conducting a fashion business?


  3. February 22 2007 at 7:07 pm

    SwanDiamondRose

    i agree. and then i guess i can add some thoughts.

    though fashion is a huge business, there are ‘individuals’ behind it with vision. i think it is easy to see only the smear of the industry and even though we get soundbites and photos and snippets from designers, i think it is still hard to believe that they are in there thinking and creating and following their own vision, but they are. there are also lots of highly acclaimed and very well known designers that suffer the typical artists faith, as in they don’t make money.

    and i am forevermore supportive of individuality and very against corporate homogeneity [like i get feisty about it and it has influenced my last 2 career choices] but! there is something comforting, thrilling and satisfying about participating in cultural trends and pop culture as it crests along brilliantly at times and idiotically at others. it is like watching a film together. it is communal too.

    but the price of supporting the throwaway fashion habit is not really forgiveable i think. the damage is so great that it will actually physically stop us from continuing to play in this way. as in, a dead planet. i guess you have to ask yourself how much you really want to live for the moment?


  4. February 22 2007 at 7:45 pm

    S.

    AGREED! Your outlook is quite apparent from this blog and wardrobe remix. That is why it’s one of my favourites.

    I’d rather consider myself stylish than fashionable. You can describe someone as having great personal style but you’d not say someone has great personal fashion. One’s style is personal fashion is not. Fashion is an industry a thing it is about manufacturing. Not saying I don’t enjoy elements of it but, I try to ingest it in limited quantities.


  5. February 22 2007 at 8:18 pm

    Gina

    Style is taking fashion (current or “retro”) and adapting it and interpreting it to make it yours.


  6. February 22 2007 at 9:58 pm

    Helen

    When I was growing up, my mother used to say:

    “Fashion is what you’re offered. Style is what you choose.”

    She also said:

    “Vanity knows no pain.” ;)

    I always think of the latter when I see girls mincing along uncomfortably in bad high heels.

    x Helen


  7. February 22 2007 at 10:06 pm

    Erica

    In my view, fashion involves paying for rights to someone else’s creativity or artistic expression. Style involves cultivating your own creativity and artistic expression, and making it work to your benefit.

    When I say “paying”, I do mean paying. When we lay down our cash for an item we like, we are paying for a little bit of the maker’s creativity, in a way. And the higher the demand for that person’s skill and creativity, the higher the price goes. It doesn’t mean that person is better than anyone else, only that they are more highly demanded for whatever reason.

    Style, on the other hand, is generated within. It is free in terms of money, but it costs in time and energy spent in consideration, trial and error, hypothesizing and so on. It is cultivated a lot like fine wine, and no matter the direction one may take her particular style, style is always, always recognizable for what it is. And it is beneficial if only because it makes you happy!

    We all wear clothing someone else made, and in that sense everyone participates in fashion as I’ve defined it. But you own presence in how you dress is the key ingredient that distinguishes style from fashion .


  8. February 22 2007 at 11:51 pm

    La Principessa

    I agree with you completely, especially in terms of big business. It is, however, hard to be relevant and not know what’s going on in popular culture–it’s also hard to live in any sort of consumer-oriented culture and not want a piece of it!

    I’ve just put all of my posts about sustainable and/or ethically made clothing on my blog into an archive together. I’m hoping to increase the archive soon!


  9. February 23 2007 at 6:14 am

    ally

    I love this! On my trip to Munich I indulged in some fashion magazines, which I rarely do as I found they added some unwanted body dysmorphia to my life.

    But I realized that I was much more excited looking at Wardrobe Remix than the runway shots, which I used to cut up into scrapbooks. Now I “favorite” remix shots instead. It’s pretty revolutionary.

    I still like to see what’s on offer– even if it’s an exercise in absurdity– the prada satin paper-bag skirts, for intstance, would look good on no one, but the colors are amazing, as are the turbans.

    And I’m glad the babydoll has come back in– that 60’s A-line flatters me, so seeing it in the magazines means I can go to the high street and find something– it’s kind of a heads up.

    I wish thirfting were better here. I often feel jealous of remixers thrifting luck! But I look at it as a challenge to make the limited number of pieces I have look new by mixing them up.


  10. February 23 2007 at 1:37 pm

    Gwyneth

    Perfectly said. Thank you!


  11. February 23 2007 at 6:43 pm

    final fashion » style or fashion

    [...] Tricia at Bits and Bobbins has set the stage for the fashion vs style definition smackdown in the wake of a barely bloggable new fashion season. [...]


  12. February 23 2007 at 9:51 pm

    Gladys

    AMEN!! I’ve been trying to get a blog post together for months on this very subject, but could never get the words out, so a big “thank you” for posting this. I believe it is spot on! And Helen, the quote from your mother on fashion and style is totally brilliant!

    As for what makes someone exude personal style – I believe it is when who they are is reflected in their clothes. They may or may not follow the latest fashion, they may change their way of dressing over time, but it is always a reflection of their inner self. I have a part-time retail job, and nothing frustrates me more than women walking in, picking out an item, and wanting to know what goes with it. If it isn’t on the mannequin or in the catalogue, they aren’t interested. I guess I’m too much of a rebel to wear something just because somebody else thought it looked good together. I look at magazines and on the internet to get inspiration, but I work with what I have, or remake what I have, to give it my own spin.


  13. February 23 2007 at 11:07 pm

    coppercoloredgal

    you are the shit….speak.


  14. February 24 2007 at 4:39 pm

    jennifer

    i say: style is an action of synthesis while fashion or trend is merely participatory or reguritative.

    i bought a great dress last week! and another i’d like to try to refashion into a skirt.


  15. October 28 2007 at 7:25 am

    CJ

    I run a clothing company and have been told I should pay more attention to fashion. Our company is doing really successful and we pay very little attention to what other people are doing. We focus on creating quality goods and improving based on our customers feedback not trends.

    Have a friend who is a fashion stylist that told me I should really get this style last season. Trend chasing to grab at a chance to make a few extra bucks in the short term is not in the long term interest of our customers.

    And this whole thing about color forecasting there is so much fluff in these things I cannot keep a straight face when reading them. Example, Winter ‘08 “Warm staple neutrals will be set off by bright yellow and dark bitter chocolate. The attractiveness of the palette is its natural beauty, which comes from the earth and its minerals such as gold and copper. The opposition of very dark mixed with very light creates something of an arrested beauty.” …Got that!?! Do not get me wrong I understand the influence these color authorities have…but how designers / clothing lines just take these forecasts and roll with them I find quite ridiculous. They should have the creative freedom to choose whatever color they want, but the business side of trying to find the next trend for colors or anything to increase sales is what you have to do I guess if your product line does not have any substance or uniqueness to stand on its own.

    It’s got to be hard to set trends when your running around trying to follow them.

    BTW, I guess I should mention I am a guy. Oh yeah, and I happen to know that Bits and Bobbins is one of our customers. We love you! ;-)


  16. October 28 2007 at 11:23 am

    tricia

    CJ: illuminating comment!

    …you should at least let me know who you are via email. it’s only right! especially if i am a customer. :)


  17. February 24 2008 at 10:28 am

    Nikki

    thanks for the insight. I agree to an extent, however, I do believe that fashion is inspiring. Designers creativity and art can inspire ones personal style. Although everything you said is very true, including the part where this is not cut and dry or black and white in the sense that something should be said for the art behind fashion. It is expression and talent and to me, very inspiring being an artist myself. But don’t get me wrong, I agree with what you said because to a lot of people, these things are true and do apply. I think it’s what you make it though. If certain people do not have a sense of creativity in thier own personal style, they can let the corporate business aspect of fashion do the thinking for them.


  18. March 22 2008 at 6:03 pm

    Style vs Fashion - are you a leader..do you follow the herd?

    [...] After doing some research online on this, I came across this very cool blog posting that I found awhile ago on Danielle’s blog finalfashion.ca.   [...]


  19. March 10 2009 at 4:20 pm

    Cielo

    Style is… translating your dreams, energies, and identity into threads, textures, colors, cuts that do not in any way contradict or hide your natural beauty…

    Fashion is… an impersonal tool, like a painter’s set of colors, from which he chooses to create his work.

    The true stylist’s main traits are individuality, creativity, resourcefulness, an infallible sense of proportion, knowledge of the colors and shapes that suit her well.