Open almost any magazine or fashion publication today and you'll be able to find the "right" clothes “for your body shape,” using
various fruit and vegetable analogies to feign a level of politeness: are you a
pear or an apple this time?
This post basically is here to say that this is all just a bunch of B.S, and why we need to move past the conception of "flattering" clothes.
Concession: as a thin and oh-so-slightly above average height (I’d
like to think so) petite girl, I’m speaking from a place of privilege. Who am I
to tell the rest of the fruits and vegetables of the world that they should
embrace the bodies that the rest of society refuses to do? (Sure, I've experienced ostracization as a Muslim woman in the USA, but never because of my figure). So, I'd like to admit my privilege in this conversation and put it out there for you to consider while
reading this.
Alright. Still with me? You’re great.
The conception that we should constantly be buying “flattering”
clothes is based on a standardized idea of what beauty is—and, therefore, what
it is not. The thin white girl with the curves in the right places and a waist
you can put a keychain around still takes home the cake (but, of course, she
just can’t eat it)—and flattering clothes are media’s conceptions of what can
bring you closer to this ideal.
And I quote.
“Oval-shaped women hold most of their excess weight around the
middle [thanks for that discovery, Sherlock]…chances are you have a good-sized
bust so there are plenty of ways to draw the eye away from the waistline”
Yeah, um, how about not.
It seems we’ve (a “we” that is rooted in the patriarchy, btw…as is
the oppression of women globally but just blamed on Islam…)
become all too comfortable on giving women orders on how to dress and what to
look like. In focusing all of our attention on outward appearances, of course
it’s what is most important (aka character & intellect) that is often forgotten
to cultivate. (All part of the patriarchy’s master plan, ladies).
Using “flattering” as a rubric for dress, us women are pushed to squeeze our waists and pump our rear ends (or whatever the kids are doing these days) in order to perpetuate society's conception of ideal beauty--a conception that women must consistently strive for but will never reach. Certain jeans are off-limits to tomatoes or styles of dresses for carrots--all because it won't help you mold and hide parts of your body that are hindering you from reaching that golden bar of beauty.
But reaching (and breaking) the glass ceiling is far more important, I think.
Of course, definitely not insinuating here that we should all go out and run around in paper bags, or even to stop wearing things that "fit," but rather to reinterpret and redefine your style based on what makes you personally feel wonderful and confident so you can take on the world. (Like these wardrobe essentials). It's not what makes your waist 2 sizes smaller that is important than what lets you move past a society that encourages women to be obsessed with fitting rubrics.
On JooJoo Azad we're also moving forward together on a minimal wardrobe project in order to lessen our attachment to, and dependence on, material goods (clothing) in general as a preoccupation of our lives.
Of course, definitely not insinuating here that we should all go out and run around in paper bags, or even to stop wearing things that "fit," but rather to reinterpret and redefine your style based on what makes you personally feel wonderful and confident so you can take on the world. (Like these wardrobe essentials). It's not what makes your waist 2 sizes smaller that is important than what lets you move past a society that encourages women to be obsessed with fitting rubrics.
On JooJoo Azad we're also moving forward together on a minimal wardrobe project in order to lessen our attachment to, and dependence on, material goods (clothing) in general as a preoccupation of our lives.
TL;DR: Screw society's standards of beauty. Wear whatever makes you personally happy and confident. Wear what defines you as a person, not hides you as an object.
<(‘)
P.S. This post was inspired by me trying to be productive in a 12hr
layover in Dusseldorf (…for a flight to Hamburg…even though I probably could
have walked there in 12 hours…) and thinking about my upcoming research in
Iran. If you’re also interested in women’s bodies as the center of politics (via
fashion, of course), stick around because I’ll be sharing some findings on this
space!
P.P.S Not into words? Then follow along on Instagram or Snapchat (@hodakay)!
-If
you enjoyed this post, please share! If you didn’t, leave a comment…and then
share!-
Hmm... provocative. Love the idea of wearing whatever makes us feel good, but usually that coincides with what makes us look good.
ReplyDeleteLindsay | http://www.ReadTheThread.com
Snaps :-D
ReplyDeleteI also got tired of the idea that I should evaluate if my body is x or y so I could wear z. Haha I just wear what I want.
Damn right girl! If I think I look good, that's all that matters. I wear stuff that is bad for my "shape" alllll the time. If it's comfy and makes you feel great, you need no other reason to wear it!
ReplyDeleteTrue that. I went through a baggy thrifted pants phase and got a bit of flack for it initially, but then people start to realize that it can be empowering to just wear what you want. I'm always surprised that magazines are still regurgitating topics like these.
ReplyDeleteWell put, I couldn't agree more! I find it so contradictory that more and more people and magazines speak out about supporting body acceptance and diversity (which is of course a great step forward), yet this nonsense is still considered the number one style rule. People should be able to feel awesome in whatever they choose to wear!
ReplyDeleteSo well written and very true! I don't identify myself with any fruit and always dress for comfort, but I suppose in a way it's easier to do that being a Muslim woman and caring about modesty over caring about the lastest fashions and what's 'in' right now - I feel like having the simple code of preserving one's modesty just makes it's easier to feel comfortable in whatever you choose to wear (as long as it's modest). This comment made more sense in my head! #FastingBrain
ReplyDeleteIqra |The Blushing Giraffe x
Yes, this is so well written. As someone with a larger frame (it is not physically possible for me to reach that "ideal" size) who has been on a looooong journey of accepting the way I actually look, I have finally come around to the fact that dressing to hide my "flaws" does not have to be the be all and end all of my existence as a woman. Wonderful post.
ReplyDeleteAha, I was about to say "Well, it's easy for petite girls to say this, because everything looks good on them." Way to call yourself out on that haha! I hear where your heart is though, and I agree. These ridiculous standards in place are demeaning to women. Just because we're built differently and don't fit into an extremely narrow definition of physical beauty, it doesn't mean we can only wear certain clothes.
ReplyDeleteBreak down the glass ceiling! *pumps fist*
The Dragonfruit Diaries
Check out my YouTube channel too!
Your arguments for comfortable, non-patriarchal clothing would be stronger without the stilettos.
ReplyDeleteI agree to a certain extent. I was recently on one of my fav instagrammers blog, and she posted an outfit with info at the bottom being like, don't wear this stripey shirt unless you're thin, and that is just not okay. You can't say those things. You can realistically wear whatever you want.
ReplyDeleteTegan xx - Permanent Procrastination
Btw check out my sweet Lightbox Giveaway if you haven’t already!
Love this all black look girl and the heals are stunning!
ReplyDeleteXO, Jessi
mywhiteT.com
I guess this post pretty much summarizes it all. And it is so true - beauty, uh, no. That's why I'm no big fan of those magazines who'll tell you what to wear and what you shouldn't, what you eat, how to do this and that.. I believe nobody is in charge to tell me what I should be like (or how to dress!). Although they always talk about it as "ideas" or "advice" I believe their opinion affects a lot of girls and women. Maybe they change their whole (life-)style because of a bloody article! And that isn't okay, this "brainwashing"-kind-of-thing, if I may call it like that.
ReplyDeleteHave fun in Germany!
Great style girl! Love the photos!
ReplyDeleteXO, Jessi
mywhiteT.com
hello there! I honestly love how you wrote this post, love your point of view in this topic but I also think it's a hard concept to chew. Yes, we should wear something that make us feel beautiful and confident instead of trying to look how society wants us to look. But, at the same time that is the concept of "outside beauty" I guess, so wearing something that maybe makes you look thinner or hugging your shape in the right places makes you feel beautiful and confident. Anyways, I'm also looking in a more minimalistic wardrobe! so hard but so worth it :) I started the process a couple of months ago and still feel very far from where I want to be but on my way.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your sweet comment on my blog about my illustrations :)
XOXO
Milu
www.hellolupi.com