bits and bobbins

in a recent discussion in the wardrobe_remix forums, i learned about a soon-to-be released book, called what i wore today: online fashion narcissism from beijing to berlin.

not knowing much about the project or it’s tack/arguement (i wonder: is it celebratory, or critical?), it seems that if nothing else, said book is focusing on the phenomenon of online fashion blogging/style sharing…you know, folks interested in fashion, photographing themselves and their outfits, and then sharing them with the world via their blogs, fashion forums, and communities or venues like wardrobe_remix (as well as other websites like w_r, of which i am sure many of you are familiar, net-and-fashion savvy as you are).

i find use of the word narcissism in the title of this book curious (and frankly, a little odd). and it got me thinking…and questioning.

the word narcissism*, at least to me, judging simply by its definition, has a pejorative connotation. i.e., it suggests that said sharing is judged to be a vice, something bad, something to perhaps be looked down at. that it is, at least in the eyes of some, vanity.

do you feel that photographing oneself and posting that photograph in a public manner automatically and unequivocally implies narcissism on the part of the person posting said photo? is that person self-centered/self-obsessed? is that bad? is that okay?

or is there another, alternative interpretation? do people share photos of themselves, or share photos of their outfits/style for reasons other than self-obsession, showing-off, or egoism?

what’s the point of sharing photos of oneself at all? why do we do it? why do do it, if you do? be critical, delve deep, divulge!

another thought: would it be better, considered less ego-centered to not share photos of oneself at all? if photographing oneself can be argued as just being documentation of what one is wearing and not intended as a narcissistic act, would it be ethically better to keep the collection of said photos to oneself? does the mere act of posting those photos to be viewed publicly turn the photos into a self-centered, egocentric endeavor, one that’s open to judgement?

(*see also: some definitions of egoism and narcissism.)

i know this may not be talked about often in the fashion blogging/sharing world…but i’m curious. i want to go deeper into this subject, if possible…

i’d love to hear what others have to say on this matter…particularly if you participate in websites like wardrobe_remix or focus on the documentation of your outfits in your own fashion blog.

what say you?

-from a recent washington post article about (u.s.) vogue magazine editrix anna wintour, and the ethos of her iconic magazine:

i don’t bother to buy or read vogue, for just such reasons. it’s unattainable, elitist, fantasy aspects just don’t appeal to me on a myriad of levels. it’s just too divorced from reality for my tastes, with it’s ridiculously priced clothing, and highly polished and crafted images of women, culture, and life…realistically, they will never be a reflection of my own life. stories about real people and images of real people, with their imperfections and differences, appeal to me far more than anything i might spot in vogue, or any magazines of a similar ilk. however, i’m probably in the minority…vogue is considered to be THE fashion bible by many, and ms. wintour is so revered and fetishized by the culture at large that she’s almost untouchable, perhaps even goddess-like in the eyes of some.

what about you? what kind of magazines do YOU favor? do you like indulging in aspirational fantasy when you digest your fashion mags, or, conversely, seeing reality when you deign to crack a style-focused monthly? or do you like a little of each, depending on your mood or whim at a given moment?

-could it be that hairstyles are a cultural barometer that suggests the current state of world economies? (via the independent) if so, some (japanese) economists say, then the long hair that heralded the high flying financial times of the recent past is on it’s way out, and cropped styles are on their way in, suggesting that when money’s short, so’s are our locks. in a very simple way, lots of flowing locks could metaphorically suggest abundance, while cutting one’s hair back may be seen as being suggestive of (financial) scarcity. others note that during the times when money and material things are scarce, people desire more visual stimulation…the variety and diversity of short hairstyles may give people at least some novelty in times of want.

any other reasons you think this might be? or is the supposition of these economists reaching for straws, and kind of a crock? what say YOU?

have you been noticing a trend (on a micro or macro level) in the way of shorter hairstyles, either locally, or in the culture at large, now that the economy has taken a dive? do you think there’s any merit to the supposition of these economists when it comes to the way we choose to wear our hair?

the quick and dirty:

-the renegade craft fair descends upon san francisco this coming weekend! cool! more details here.

-burdastyle recently made a post that featured some quick, helpful tips on taking better pictures. i’ve harped on this subject before…i don’t know about you, but i’m sick of seeing janky photos of people’s creative endeavors or outfits. make the effort…go the extra mile! you’ll find that people respond more to aesthetically pleasing, thoughtfully designed photos and images in blogs and elsewhere. and, it’s not really all that hard of a skill to master. just like anything else, it just takes practice. do eeeeet!!!

-i’ve always had a soft spot for knitted, crocheted, and fiber jewelry. which explains why i am enamored with this crochet collar pattern by the ongoing project. (via craft:)

-make a pleasing workbasket and matching pincushion using vintage sheets! it is by oh fransson and is friggin’ adorable. put it to work as a place to stash and corral all those little bits and bobs you use for creative clothes-making (also via craft:)

-smagglestyle shows us all how to make good on those laddered tights and stockings by morphing them into a fabulous necklace. she’s a smart cookie, that smaggle!

-because i quite literally have babies on the brain right now, and uh, a baby living inside my body at the moment (umm, hello???), i’m all “awwww!” over this cute little quick bias tape bib project over at the purl bee. cute! on a related note, their pattern for knitted baby bloomers is pretty damn adorable too.

-make yarn out of scraps of fabric with the help of laughing purple (via whip up). oh, the possibilities!

-some creative ways to lace your shoes/sneaks (via buzzfeed)

-liebemarlene just made a post about knitting and vintage knitting patterns and her love for such. one of the commenters on the aforementioned post linked to this adorable “3-hour sweater” pattern from the 1930s. v. cute, eh? and allegedly, quick too…

-i talk about stuff a lot here. i think about stuff a lot, too. about how we have lots of stuff, what we do with that stuff…and i often wonder if we (we includes me) really need all that stuff…

apparently, comedian george carlin, who died sunday at age 71 of heart failure, pondered some of the same stuff about stuff.

RIP, george.

-do you love and/or accept your body? or do you, like so many, find yourself being critical of your current form?

already pretty made a recent post touching on body image, wherein she quotes stylist/designer l’wren scott, who dresses many rich and famous folks, many of whom who embody enviable forms: “i’ve never met a woman who loves her own body. ever.” a tragic statement, if true.

relatedly, tara parker-pope of the new york times reports on a study that suggests that many normal weight teens feel fat.

where does this body hatred, this fear of flesh (or, really fleshiness) come from? what can we do to cure or counteract bad body image, culture-wide? what is already being done?

why are we so hard on ourselves, and so critical of the bodies of others? is it part of being human, is it social/part of society or something more?

how much culpability should the fashion industry (fashion designers, marketers, and fashion media all included) accept for this culture-wide body dysmorphia, if they should at all? are they, to a large part, to blame, because they glorify (and market) an impossibly skinny and tall ideal?

but…also, i ask: are things better now than they used to be, as far as body image goes? are we more accepting of bodies (of others, of our own) these days, or less?

-up until what seems like recently, fashion favored the showy ‘conspicuous consumption’ look: the ‘it’ dress, the ‘it’ bag, the ‘it’…whatever. show it off, wear it proud, in your face, bling, blang…pow! wear the trends everyone else is wearing to show (or at least suggest) you’re in the inner circle! aspirational fashion, ahoy!

now, with the looming recession, it’s all about stealth wealth. to quote forbes magazine, “the fashion for aggressive displays of wealth is hitting a low point”. the new, more subtle way to show your “in”? to wear that which flies under the radar, that which is recognizable only those “in the know”.

after reading about this, i wonder: how long can these lower-profile, high-class trends really stay secret and stealthy? eventually, i’d argue, those wily plebes are going to catch on, no? how does/will this trend for the lower profile trends trickle and translate down the line? it’s only a matter of time before it does, right? and if it doesn’t, why wouldn’t it?

apparently, this trend for showing off wealth in a stealthy way isn’t the look du jour elsewhere (outside the states and parts of europe, in the middle east and asia/pacific, etc.). different markets are now demanding different approaches to luxury (via the international herald tribune). perhaps america is no longer setting the pace…or the trends. trends and innovation are more and more developed overseas, no?

and…the quick and dirty. just a few for ya this go round!:

-this simple, minimal knitted linen tunic pattern found on the purl bee so very much hits the mark with me right now.

-a brilliant fiber dyeing idea from the matchbook: use flour paste to achieve a batik-like effect on fabric. (via craft:)

-polka dot creations shows how to transform an old sheet into a funky new skirt (also via craft:)