The two aphorisms I chose from Christopher Breward’s piece to analyse are “Fashion is intensely personal, in the same what that poetry is personal. It is a medium through which personal stories can be told, memories relived and futures foretold;” and “Fashion is gossip. Never underestimate the power of gossip. Semiologists are driven into ecstasies of supposition by its whispers.” I believe these aphorisms are entirely accurate. Fashion is personal, it reveals and conceals our deepest desires, thoughts, and experiences. Fashion is a representation of all we have learned and experienced, or dreamed of learning and experiencing. In addition, fashion also has very similar effects on society, specifically public perception, as gossip. Gossip has the ability to transform one’s reputation, just as fashion has the power to transform one’s appearance. It is the confidence in the voice of the gossiper and in the body language of the wearer that provides credibility to the gossiper’s statements and the model’s choice look. I chose these aphorisms because I truly believe in their definitions of fashion. In my designs I implement personal experiences and many times must draw upon memories of my past in order to pool together a group of emotions that inspire my work. Therefore, my designs become a reminder of my past, almost like a photograph, which I often look back on for future inspiration, but also pure personal gratification. Also, I constantly find myself interested in fashion’s superpower, its ability to manipulate one’s appearance whether that be via silhouette, color, shape, line, print, etc. I truly believe that fashion, even without a personal connection is deeply connected to the individual it is dressing because it is a skill being used to construct a new identity of oneself, suggesting one is not comfortable in his/her own skin.
