PUT THIS ON mentioned a GQ article that speaks on the evolution of street fashion and the overflow of “peacocks” out in public today. The author’s criticism seems to be that the once “cool, hip and underground” snaps of people’s unique and idiosyncratic style choices has somehow spawned a generation of outlandish and over-the-top fashion faux pas.
As a fair-weather photographer, I can appreciate the concept of not wanting overly posed and contrived subject matter. It’s a valid argument. I’m not a fan of the criticism of it existing, however. Freedom of expression is pointless if we encourage artistic license and at the same time admonish the “attention whores”. The point is that we don’t get to differentiate the two as a cost of having that freedom.
Let’s not kid ourselves either about what motivates us. Those of us who give more than just a general shit about what we wear are doing it partly if not solely to be noticed. Fashion is a visible expression of self and by definition is done to be seen by others so as to demonstrate our own distinctiveness. I find it a bit hypocritical to chastise someone for their borderline Anna Piaggi-esque fashion choices.
Having been involved in apparel for the better part of the last decade, I’ve seen the evolution of fashion blogging and what seems to get the attention of the public. You are of course correct that sites like the Sartorialist are inundated by shots of Stefano Tonchi from WWD and industry people coming and going from one show to another. An argument could be made, though, that as industry movers and shakers, their own style choices may set trends by being reflected in their respective publications, fashion spreads and clothing lines, and in THAT sense, showing their style might be just as valuable as catching a pedestrian who somehow throws together a unique eye-catching look.
I can’t say that I place value on one more than the other, as far as street style blogs are concerned. I think in general the value of a fashion blog is personal to what we individually like to see. As someone with more in-depth industry knowledge what I like will be vastly different from the general populace.
Fashion blogs as well as main-stream media are so influential on style today that finding truly uninhibited, “natural” street style is quite difficult. (Though, if you are going to present yourself as a “Street Style” blog, then I wouldn’t argue with trying to stay away from being an industry professional-inundated site.)
I think the bigger-picture question here is where are the last bastions of TRUE street-style, and does it really exist? I’ve been to most parts of the country, and my sad conclusion, (it pains me as a red-blooded Budweiser-drinking, Levi 501-wearing, Lucky Strike-smoking American), is that it might not be found in these United States.
I hope to be proven wrong.
- M
