I don't know from her perspective why she loves fashion the way she does, but I can tell you from mine.
I grew up poor. We shopped in thrift stores for back to school clothes. Before it was cool. I got picked on. I grew up and turned my clothes from the thrift store into my personal creations, fixing them up from bits I picked up at the fabric store with babysitting money. I noticed Vogue. I started clipping pages I liked, collaging them and making art projects.
I saved up my money for forever and went to the mall to finally spend it. I found on a sale rack a heavily discounted DKNY tweed coat. I saw it in the store and tried it on and had this wonderful feeling. I honestly don't know what it was, just before I realized I didn't actually have enough for it. It was the most beautiful thing I ever thought that I could own, and I was shy of owning it even with all the money I had saved from babysitting and chores for the better part of a year. I cried. My mom found me in the store and gave me the difference I was short so I could have it, because she wanted to badly to be able to contribute to something nice of my own and not a hand-me-down. I've now had it for 15 years. I have worn it completely out. But I will never get rid of it.
I also grew up and found that there wasn't any money for college, despite a mysterious fund that my dead-beat dad set up that never materialized (obviously a lie to placate my mom). I eventually landed a job at Saks Fifth Avenue. I can not tell you how proud it made my mom that I had such a prestigious job, in her eyes. It was something that I kept wanting to pinch myself. I worked there! I was a part of fashion! My meager salary barely supported me, but I was a part of it. I could fuss and gawk at beautiful clothes and makeup and handbags all day, and I got paid for it! And the discount. I didn't make much, but I saved up and bought a Louis Vuitton purse. I've had this conversation with a couple of my super-close friends and I've come to the conclusion that these fashion things that I own are a symbol that I will never go back to the past. I wont be poor. I don't care that it sounds shallow. It probably means that I haven't found the right words, or I wasn't honest enough about my experience. Its the best I can manage to say.
But I really wanted to share this because we probably will never know what fashion means to Beth Ditto. I can tell you from having something a little similar in my past there is way more to it that even what made it into this comment. But also maybe we need to think to ourselves that people can have these shallow likes, fleeting fancies that we indulge in. It should never take away from the positive work that anyone does in other areas of their life. People are so much more than one sliver that is shown in the press, or in public for that matter. Sometimes we can't explain why a dress makes us happy. I don't think of her love of fashion as Ms. Ditto's defining aspect of character. She's a multi-faceted gem, thankfully not a cookie cutter bland personality as the author pointed out, with a parent quietly ushering her into the business. I'm pretty sure she's got the substance to back it up, even if the world isn't privy to it.
I know that the personal is political. But sometimes the personal can be personal and almost unexplainable. I feel like she is doing something, in spite (or because) of her love of high fashion. She refused Top Shop, and insisted on only designing a line for plus size. I say awesome! I have a few questions for all of us. Do we (and I mean this in a really broad sense) really need to rip someone down a notch? Do we need to insist her clothes she designed are ugly? Do we need to judge her friendships with the fashionable? Is this really what I signed up for in feminism? I remember getting schooled by a fellow feminist when I said something a bit degrading about a woman in my younger years. I learned from that and can say I feel like this kind of attitude holds us back. How do you get shit accomplished when one that is doing so much gets this kind of scrutiny, over dresses! Lets report to each other on awesome things women do, and celebrate things that bring us joy. I want so badly for everyone to build each other up. I know not everything is positive, but I can be hopeful, right?
***This got much longer than I intended, holy cow!
Does anyone else have an issue about the fashion industry's tokenism of Beth Ditto as the pet fat girl? And why is she glorifying wearing fur? I think it reflects poorly that she's sucking up accolades from an industry that is dedicated to oppressing women- this is not a reflection of social change within fashion, she's a novelty, the flavor of the week. I can't get behind it.
@biancajames: Yes—because wearing a spandex dress with neon dominos on it is not paying any particular homage to fashion or design, even if you are fat.
Punk has always been partially about fashion. Vivienne Westwood founded the "Sex" shop with Malcom Mclaren, and now she is high dollar designer. I don't know how I feel though about tranforming Beth Ditto into fashion's next 'it' girl as one day your 'in' and the next day your 'out', and she's to good for that.
@harpy: I have such a low opinion of the fashon industry in general that I'm afraid I can't see their embrace of Beth Ditto as anything other than tokenism. It won't last. It also won't open up the door for other fat girls to be taken seriously or even given the time of day by high fashion designers. If these people suddenly start making their ranges in sizes up to 20, I will happily eat my words. But let's just say I'm not holding my breath.
@BiteMeMitchell!: At least she was able to design her own clothing line for one season. It was interesting. If it sells, maybe there will be more opportunites for plus sizes.
This reflects a lot about how I feel about "high" fashion, which is similar to how I feel about "fine" art. A lot of it is self-important, but a lot of it is really beautiful, but exists on a level that isn't particularly practical or meant for the every day. It's an expression, which is lovely, but it hides some pretty elitist ideas.
Which is why I ultimately prefer going to thrift stores and Etsy.
Even if I can't read it, just the fact that "a queer theory reading of the Annual Taxidermy Convention, Competition, And Trade Show" exists makes me unspeakably happy.
1. I really like her point about fashion as art - I could never afford Rodarte, or Alexander McQueen, but damned if I don't love looking at them.2. Ok, I just have to say: I am totally interested in an essay about hobos.
Jenna promoted this comment
Edited by sydbarrettsaves, emissary of hell at 08/11/09 4:18 PM
sydbarrettsaves, emissary of hell was starred
sydbarrettsaves, emissary of hell was unstarred
The true import of this paradox — the idea that fashion relies on a vast underclass whose belief in the value of products they could never afford actually inflates those very products' prices high enough that the profits they make for the label can be invested in giving away shit to those who actually could afford to buy at the inflated value
This is the most brilliantly expressed thought I have read on the site to date. Fucking Brilliant, but it breaks my heart.
@Vivelafat says Sweep the leg, Johnny.: Sadly, it's nothing new. Isn't the whole point of $50,000 couture products to bump up the prestige of the $50 dollar products by the same company by association?
as much as i don't like guns, i wouldn't mind going to a shooting range to practice. i look at like skating; i don't own rollerskates anymore, but i know how to skate...
Can I just say that I really enjoy these threads about the PBS documentaries? I'm a dork and usually watch these things, so it's nice to have a place to talk about them.
That's the worst PBS doc. It would have been so much better had they gotten a contemporary woman to recreate Oakley's feats, but instead we're treated to women's studies profs droning on.
@Lulupasternak: I didn't see this particular doc, but it seems that the quality of their documentaries has been declining. Due to budget restraints I am assuming.
I had a Annie Oakley biography for children that I used to read over and over when I was little, and I thought she was *so awesome*. I'd love to see that documentary sometime to see what was true and what wasn't.
08/12/09
I grew up poor. We shopped in thrift stores for back to school clothes. Before it was cool. I got picked on. I grew up and turned my clothes from the thrift store into my personal creations, fixing them up from bits I picked up at the fabric store with babysitting money. I noticed Vogue. I started clipping pages I liked, collaging them and making art projects.
I saved up my money for forever and went to the mall to finally spend it. I found on a sale rack a heavily discounted DKNY tweed coat. I saw it in the store and tried it on and had this wonderful feeling. I honestly don't know what it was, just before I realized I didn't actually have enough for it. It was the most beautiful thing I ever thought that I could own, and I was shy of owning it even with all the money I had saved from babysitting and chores for the better part of a year. I cried. My mom found me in the store and gave me the difference I was short so I could have it, because she wanted to badly to be able to contribute to something nice of my own and not a hand-me-down. I've now had it for 15 years. I have worn it completely out. But I will never get rid of it.
I also grew up and found that there wasn't any money for college, despite a mysterious fund that my dead-beat dad set up that never materialized (obviously a lie to placate my mom). I eventually landed a job at Saks Fifth Avenue. I can not tell you how proud it made my mom that I had such a prestigious job, in her eyes. It was something that I kept wanting to pinch myself. I worked there! I was a part of fashion! My meager salary barely supported me, but I was a part of it. I could fuss and gawk at beautiful clothes and makeup and handbags all day, and I got paid for it! And the discount. I didn't make much, but I saved up and bought a Louis Vuitton purse. I've had this conversation with a couple of my super-close friends and I've come to the conclusion that these fashion things that I own are a symbol that I will never go back to the past. I wont be poor. I don't care that it sounds shallow. It probably means that I haven't found the right words, or I wasn't honest enough about my experience. Its the best I can manage to say.
But I really wanted to share this because we probably will never know what fashion means to Beth Ditto. I can tell you from having something a little similar in my past there is way more to it that even what made it into this comment. But also maybe we need to think to ourselves that people can have these shallow likes, fleeting fancies that we indulge in. It should never take away from the positive work that anyone does in other areas of their life. People are so much more than one sliver that is shown in the press, or in public for that matter. Sometimes we can't explain why a dress makes us happy. I don't think of her love of fashion as Ms. Ditto's defining aspect of character. She's a multi-faceted gem, thankfully not a cookie cutter bland personality as the author pointed out, with a parent quietly ushering her into the business. I'm pretty sure she's got the substance to back it up, even if the world isn't privy to it.
I know that the personal is political. But sometimes the personal can be personal and almost unexplainable. I feel like she is doing something, in spite (or because) of her love of high fashion. She refused Top Shop, and insisted on only designing a line for plus size. I say awesome! I have a few questions for all of us. Do we (and I mean this in a really broad sense) really need to rip someone down a notch? Do we need to insist her clothes she designed are ugly? Do we need to judge her friendships with the fashionable? Is this really what I signed up for in feminism? I remember getting schooled by a fellow feminist when I said something a bit degrading about a woman in my younger years. I learned from that and can say I feel like this kind of attitude holds us back. How do you get shit accomplished when one that is doing so much gets this kind of scrutiny, over dresses! Lets report to each other on awesome things women do, and celebrate things that bring us joy. I want so badly for everyone to build each other up. I know not everything is positive, but I can be hopeful, right?
***This got much longer than I intended, holy cow!
08/11/09
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Which is why I ultimately prefer going to thrift stores and Etsy.
08/11/09
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08/11/09
This is the most brilliantly expressed thought I have read on the site to date. Fucking Brilliant, but it breaks my heart.
08/11/09
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04/07/09
...different year, obvs.
04/07/09
Queen Victoria wasn't that into suffrage--or I could be making that up. Ugh.
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