Writing my dissertation at the moment, it's so interesting to explore the way in which clothes shape you as a person. You may not think it, but what you decide to wear today - say a black polo neck, navy jeans and a pair of Stan Smiths, reflects the persona or image you're trying to convey ie. you're a relaxed, too cool for school kid who prefers to opt for comfort rather than glamour when it comes to fashion.What you wear is judged by society the moment you step out that door. You are at once cast into a group - punk, sporty, pretty, chic, chav... the list goes on, as well as whether you're rich or poor (vitally important in society). All of this just by getting dressed in the morning.
Now, those of us who deny we take time to think about what we're going to throw onto our backs in the morning are lying. We all make a conscientious decision every morning to wear particular pieces, depending on our moods, the outside temperature and perhaps our day jobs or tasks required of us that day. Yet, we have a signature style which we want to communicate to the outside world. A great example is when someone like me, who can't afford to shop in luxury boutiques, decides to turn up at the Louis Vuitton store on Old Bond Street in a pair of old converses, skinny ripped jeans, a parka from Bershka and a handbag from H&M. Before I have even stepped through the store entrance I am being judged. The security guard looks me up and down, no doubt thinking 'keep an eye on this one.' The snooty sales assistants who greet me inside the store, slyly smile at one another thinking 'what is someone like her doing in our store?' And then the store manager looks over, agreeing that I don't even deserve the time for sales assistant to talk to me as I obviously can't afford anything inside the store and will be out within the next minute. Harsh but true.
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| The stereotypical chav vs Kate Middleton |
Now, same situation, different clothes. I turn up to Louis Vuitton on Old Bond Street wearing a tailored black coat, black leather heeled boots and my Nan's old fox fur stole draped around my neck. I also have my baby blue Zara purse tucked under my arm and a large pair of sunglasses perched on my nose. The security guard at the door smiles at me and nods in approval. The sales assistants rush over to greet me and ask if I'm looking for anything in particular today, while the store manager smiles to himself at the prospect of a big sale to boost the days target. A completely different experience just by the clothes I'm wearing. It truly is terrible that we judge, and I'm not saying that all wealthy people walk around with their fur coats, Hermes bags and huge heels all day - well the new money folk tend to. But, if you look the part, you are treated better.
We are all guilty. I have worked in a number of luxury fashion stores, and I like to think I can tell if someone is a potential customer or not, just by what they're wearing. It is the way I, and you too, have been conditioned since birth. Judging someone is second nature. Recently in America, putting fashion aside, black men have been constantly judged, targeted and killed by the police just by the colour of their skin. Because of course, according to the police, if you're black you are dangerous, which is absolutely ridiculous. Here in London, when I get on the tube followed by a guy wearing a hoodie, at once other passengers look at him wearily and clutch their bags a little tighter. Chances are this man who decided to wear a hoodie that day, is among the least dangerous people on the train.
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| The evolution of Mrs Beckham... |
Fashion is constantly judging. Kim Kardashian steps out wearing a see through black dress and Yeezy boots -
Mail Online goes into melt down with the amount of negative comments. "She's nothing more than a cheap slut," "What an awful mother," "She looks like a hooker," "Her bum is so fake"... Judging all the time. Yes, Mrs Kardashian West wanted attention, why else would she decide to step out in something as revealing as that? But it's incredible that we at once put her in the category of reality TV star slut. We do the same with numerous celebrities, from Miley Cyrus, Angelina Jolie and Nicki Minaj to the Duchess of Cambridge, Rihanna and Victoria Beckham. Victoria Beckham is one of the best examples out there. She went from tasteless, cheap footballers wife to respected fashion designer with a slot at NYFW, through a major shift in her personal image. Who doesn't love looking through those before and after photos?
So, if anything I'm simply trying to say don't judge a book by its cover. We have done it for centuries, and no doubt we will do for centuries more, but if we can help it, we should stop! We all love to bitch (trust me, that's one of my favourite pastimes) but it's unnecessary, mean and very wrong to do when we don't know that person at all. Next time you step outside your door, think about what image you're trying to portray to the rest of society. Because believe me, even the post man will be judging.
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| Angelina Jolie, Nicki Minaj and Kim Kardashian all have very different public images. |
