After reading the aphorisms presented by Christopher Breward, multiple phrases resonated with me. The first was one which I met with divergence: “Fashion is gossip. Never underestimate the power of gossip. Semiologists are driven into ecstasies of supposition by its whispers.”

Although I do consider this point true, I do not agree with it. This aphorism is explaining the way trends (gossip) and conversation (ecstasies of supposition) drive fashion. The whispers that spread via the conversations started by fashion are what constitute the movement of trends throughout time. Breward’s observation that ‘gossip’ or trends in fashion are a driving point of the industry is completely accurate; trends are a large component of the marketing of fashion. The reason I fundamentally disagree with the aphorism is because I do not think trends should be involved in the process of fashion design. I define fashion in a very personal manner. For me, fashion is self expression in the most tangible form. Self expression never coincides with gossip; gossip diminishes the foundation that self expression exists on. Though gossip is an effect of fashion, in no way is fashion itself gossip.

The second aphorism I was drawn to was better aligned with my personal beliefs: “Fashion is intensely personal, in the same way poetry is intensely personal. It is a medium through which personal stories can be told, memories re-lived and future foretold.”

I consider fashion to be the pinnacle of creativity. This aphorism looks at the delicate, artistic component of fashion. Fashion is a personal mechanism of storytelling, whether it be autobiographical or narrative. The metaphor that Breward uses equating poetry and fashion is something I find particularly intriguing; I think fashion itself is a form of poetry. Breward’s understanding that fashion is a way of remembering, reliving, and perceiving is something I agree with wholeheartedly. I use fashion to understand myself better, while simultaneously trying to express the way I feel.

The both of these aphorisms opened my mind to new considerations of fashion and sparked new thought. Though I don’t agree with Breward’s observations in totality, I think his notions must be acknowledged to understand fashion completely.