bits and bobbins

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.

yes, it has been many months. but i’ve missed showing off the amazing people who exhibit amazing style in wardrobe_remix! they number nearly 3000 at this current juncture, and they make the community what it is: stylish, envelope pushing, real and creative. so here i go!

i must say, though, larger numbers of members means a large number of photos to sift through, making this process challenging, but fun! thanks to all of you, if you happen to be reading, for making it what it is. keep wardrobe_remix awesome!

boboniaa:

Jonesy80:

o0lua0o:

Iconoclastic:

verabug (aka the costume cabbie here in san francisco!):

lebonbonmulticolore:

remember: you can click on the photo of any of these terrific wardrobe_remix(ers) to learn more about their photo or outfit, and explore their flickr photostream. all of the photos are owned by the awesome people who are depicted in them, of course!

join us over at wardrobe_remix and show off your awesome EVERYDAY trendbusting and trend-SETTING personal style!

and if you are a member of the community, you can jump in and heartily discuss thoughtful, interesting, intelligent topics concerning the intersection of culture, the environment, our modern times, art and fashion, such as How much clothes do we really need?! and Where do you find inspiration?

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as always, you inspire me.

note all the patchwork! hah.

***

still recovering from my wisdom teeth extraction, which was last friday. i’ve been being a big baby and have spending a lot of time on the couch vegetating but i am finally starting to feel a little bit better! yay.

working on:

-a pile of re-fashioned thrifted lovlies i need to post to wardrobe refashion. i’ve been bad and haven’t been posting there, but have been making and doing, and i think having the flu and surgery may cover me as an excuse. in my defense, i haven’t been shopping at any mass-retail type places for clothing, so i have kept my word!

-a striped a-line short sleeved top-down raglan tunic using this wool i bought several weeks back simply because i adored the way the colors looked together.

-the striped tunic sweaterdress, which is still in progress but very near to completion. sadly, i thought i had enough to complete the whole thing from stash, but did not, and was forced to purchase more, which i’m waiting to be shipped to me.

on the topic of fashion in the larger sense:

interestingly, i have yet to really look at ANY of the fashion shows of the past three or so weeks. i probably will eventually examine the current collections of designers i love and have always loved, but you know what? i’m not missing the keeping up with the trendmill, as it were, and i am increasingly just enjoying finding peace in following the little offbeat fashion drummer that resides inside my soul, and i am also trying to find and make what’s really me, with less influence from the big fashion movers and shakers. i think i will eventually take a peek at what’s what, but i’m not in a huge hurry.

i am increasingly more interested in seeking out small, thoughtful labels of independent, artistic designers and makers. people who make a beautiful product but aren’t necessarily part of a huge multinational corporation that is purely profit-driven. i want to, in the future, highlight these special people more in this here blog-o-rama. if i am going to look and want, i want to concentrate on looking primarily at the things that are special and amazing and authentic.

and of course, seeing what people are wearing on (my baby!) wardrobe_remix, hel-looks, facehunter, and the myriad of similar sites is what i find far more interesting than the marching of lithe models in unaffordable, often unwearable clothes. REAL PEOPLE are interesting. real everyday fashion that comes from the minds and closets and cultures and creative minds of real, everyday people who exhibit extraordinary personal style is what REALLY inspires me.