My husband mentioned Rachel Ray-gate to me, and I immediately thought, wow, someone REALLY wanted some free press and media attention to make such a bizarre and incendiary accusation. Rachel Ray may be a little sparkletastic sometimes and get on my last nerve, but I have full confidence that she is not harboring a terrorist agenda. Even if she does wear controversial scarves which, as we’ve established, she does not.

Like many of you, I’ve got mixed feelings about cultivating absolute awareness of how our style choices might affect others. It’s hard to know what might offend everyone at all times. And yet, certain items so clearly bear a cultural mark you feel like people should just KNOW, or at least, know to ask. I recently posted about appropriating logograms as tattoos, and I feel this is a little more cut-and-dried: if you don’t speak/read the language, you may not know the full meaning of the symbol, so just don’t go there. But with clothing, it’s considerably more hazy.

I will admit to indulging in bodysnarking occasionally, but having read this, I realize the error of my ways. I know, I know, it shouldn’t take a conversation like this for me to acknowledge the negativity I’m creating. But I can honestly say that my main motivation is frustration with people who haven’t put any effort into learning what flatters them. Folks who wear the trends NO MATTER WHAT or sport outrageously ill-fitting clothes bring out the worst in me. I look at them and think, “Irresponsible! Learn to see yourself, and dress your body so you look as awesome as you really are!” But it’s totally true that snarking about any of that feeds a culture of criticism and body-based judgment. Don’t condone either of those things. I vow to knock it the hell off.

I try too hard every damn day, and proud of it. This is me: http://www.nataliedee.com/100806/matchy-matchy.jpg (Props to Natalie Dee for my all-time favorite fashion comic.) And I loved disneyrollergirl’s post. LOVED.

I think in the case of the hipster scarves, it belies a greater ignorance, particularly on the part of my generation, in seeing or even seeking subtext in their choices. A generation that was told to “let it all hang out” and “do what feels right”, does no longer have the tools necessary to plunge deeper into even their most mundane fashion choices to understand what they might be conveying via their clothes. I think this is particularly critical when borrowing from other societies’ garments. In the case of the keffiyeh, whether or not you support the Palestinians, it creates a political statement to others that they pick up on.

Body nit-picking… ugh, I’m so over it! I think if I see another tabloid cover with “Worst Bikini Bodies” on it, I might scream. Since when do movie stars have to look like models (isn’t that what a model is paid for, anyway?)??? Seriously: I think more attention should be paid to encouraging them in their acting careers than whether they have a saggy butt or arm flab. lol. Some of my favorite actors and actresses don’t have “perfect” bods anyway.

Thanks for the great post!!

As for the keffiyehs, we’re really sort of talking about “appropriation” aren’t we? I mean, if you’re taking something out of it’s social context, ans wearing it just because you like the look of it, that’s “appropriating” it for your own self-expression. The thing I don’t particularly understand is why some forms of “borrowing” are okay, like kilts which are a classic wardrobe choice for everyone of any heritage here in the states. At one point I was sick of my hair, and so (grey haired, and white as I am) I briefly entertained the idea of dreadlocks. In researching how to go about matting my hair, I ran across a discussion of how white folks wearing dreads is considered by some to be “appropriation.” Add caftans, clogs, and tartans aren’t appropriating, but dreadlocks and keffiyehs may be; what’s the difference. BTW, my hair is still its naturally wavy self, and shall remain so.

Bodysnarking disgusts me. Last summer there was an actress who was photographed wearing a bikini; suddenly everyone on the internet felt free to dump on the poor woman because her body wasn’t in “bikini shape.” As if, just because she’s a celeb, she ought to have a “perfect” body, or otherwise not blight the beaches with her presence. And yet on the other side there is bodysnarking if an actress gets too thin. Leave the poor people alone! Just because they have – as Johnny Depp puts it – an unusual career, does not mean that we own them.

And what goes for celebs ought to go just as well for you average Jane on the street, er, ‘net. We’ve got so rude. And it’s rude to comment on someone’s body size. There was a day *shakes cane* when it was even considered rude to compliment someone you did not know well in a personal fashion. A long long ago day, before the internet.

And as for “trying too hard,” I suppose it’s in the eye of the beholder. Fashion should be fun, I think, and never serious. There are certaintly people who think way too much about it. I think you linked a NY Times article a few months back about people who dress in only one color; that’s definetly “trying to hard” in my book. Fashion never cured diseases, nor will it ever end world poverty or war. (Actually, not sure about that last one.) When you look at the greater scheme of things, putting too much thought/time/expense into one’s look seems rather selfish. Hope you don’t mind if I quote a little Bible here: “And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:” Matthew 6:28. Having said all that, I’m not above trying a little too hard myself, from time to time.

Darn, why do I have to go to a wedding on Saturday??? I’d so much rather be at that Lotta Jansdotter workshop! Oh, shoot! What am I going to wear??? *frets*

People who choose to wear one, whether they mean to be political or provocative or just say screw it, I like the design, should at least know where it comes from. But when the people mass-marketing it to them don’t even seem to know… ignorance IS no excuse, but this is one case where I can’t *entirely* fault the hipsters for that ignorance. (I can’t believe I said that. )

Now regarding bodysnarking: I think it’s a hugely damaging crock of crap that needs to be shut down right now.

it’s a scarf with fringe, and i’ve seen a hundred like it this season. debate the questionable merits of that scarf with that top, or of dunkin donuts iced coffee [bleaaahhh] if you must, but i don’t believe there are any political ramifications, subtle or otherwise, at work in this ad.