Fashion Follies

Remember my gripe about the wader shoes not so long ago? Those things are a perfect example. It can be argued that fashion shouldn't be mocked by the creation of something so utterly ludicrious that people actually start to think the industry isn’t a serious one, and one that isn’t dedicated to an art form.

Or, if I play devil's advocate here, could it be argued that because the fashion industry is one dedicated to personal expression and art, that nothing in fact is silly or out of the question? Consider condom clothing. There has been entire fashion shows dedicated to clothing made completely from condoms. Displayed in a museum of modern art, it is highly likely that such an exhibit would be considered illuminating and challenging to the viewer by people who know about such things. Conversations would be sparked about the links between fashion and sex, and how the representation of safety through the use of the condoms both explores and questions safety in relation to fashion and the desire to conform despite expressing individual creativity.

Exhibited on a runway, and the idea people believe to be behind the clothing has the potential to change dramatically. Although we all know that haute couture shows are often about publicity and not really about selling what’s on the catwalk, the usual fashion show still has an element of the wearable about it. Although the currently showing ridiculously large knitted scarves of the northern hemisphere don’t translate to most people’s wardrobes, there is still the perception that should we have the cash, and the right social circle, we could, and would, probably attempt to pull off some of the ensembles.  The presentation of clothing made completely of condoms, on the other hand, doesn’t resonate with most. Clothing such as this casues a stir amongst the general population and instead of considering art, the focus becomes completely on practicality, and often questions asked are those along the lines of “Well who would ever actually wear something made from condoms?”

Perhaps the condom dresses were about art, but instead of being in a gallery, were displayed in a more relevant setting. Personal expression through fashion is not a new concept, but some people take it to a very different level to that which we are accostomed to (such as the condom outfits), and this is where fashion follies occur. Someone may just be having fun with fashion, but someone else may look at it as a mockery of the industry and what it stands for. Regardless of your opinion, this type of fashion demonstrates the power that what we wear actually holds. Back in my hometown of Perth, there is an annually run home made bikini competition which attracts an amazing array of talent, and is another perfect example of fashion follies. The majority of these bikinis could never actually be used as swimwear, and the rules which include no use of thread or cotton seem to encourage this. Having been fortunate enough to judge the contest one year, I witnessed bikinis made from the ring pulls of soft drink cans (yes, it was confirmed to be as painful as you are probably imagining) to bikinis with live goldfish encased in them. Although definitely playing the part of fashion follies, this contest is purely about creativity and imagination, which it could be argued is actually the essence of fashion. 

In which case, perhaps I should retract my statement about the waders.