I have always been aware that we, as members of a society, have restricted freedom when it comes to our dressing choices; the industry decides what to put on the racks and even if you want to make your own clothes (to have a “one-of-a-kind” garment), there is a limited amount of fabrics you can buy. However, before taking this course I was never conscious of how many aspects come into play when we are buying new attire, or dressing each morning. This class has opened my eyes to how complicated and necessary fashion really is.
I think that in the opening line of Fashion and Cultural Studies, Susan B. Kaiser sums up the term really nicely: “Fashion is not a thing or an essence. Rather it is a social process of negotiation and navigation.” (Kaiser 2012, 1). Many may think that we can still choose what clothes we acquire, and yes we do, but we are still bound to many different social rules. We want to stand out but at the same time we want to blend in; we want to challenge our society but we also want to feel like we belong somewhere. As an example, when I came here to New York I felt the need to stand out, so I started wearing gold shoes only. No matter how much I liked other-colored footgear, I will only buy gold ones. Why? Because I also started wearing a uniform, for practical purposes, made up of black and white garments. My shoes are my way of expressing my uniqueness while my uniform is how I conform with society.
Fashion is a day-to-day phenomenon that we all get to experience, even if some do not notice it. It was very interesting seeing throughout the semester how the term unfolded in our eyes, discovering with each class a new facet of it. It is a game of pulling and letting go, full of conflicts and ambiguities. Fashion will never cease to evolve; it keeps changing, just as we humans do.
