I have been feeling like I want to wear a black beret again. A beret and a black leather jacket. Once again I am up for a fight. When I was a younger social worker who frequented some very tough neighborhoods and advocated for and with young women and girls who were experiencing and speaking out about sexual and physical abuse, a black beret and leather jacket was my uniform. Triggering this of course is the current (and not so current like last year) news and stories of prominent men sexually harassing and assaulting women and the general regressive political pull to the past. These memories are also evoked by the cool and strong girls wearing berets in the Fall 2017 Dior campaign as I dream and think about my Fall wardrobe and the story I want to tell, the identity I want to emphasize.
Perhaps fight is not the right word, as I don’t feel that is always a productive solution. Perhaps strong, or resilient is a better word, one that better conveys the harnessing of productive power, one that transforms. Something like what I have witnessed in the post-traumatic growth of those I have worked with and from whom I have received the gift of what I call “vicarious resilience”. Both social media and fashion have both productive and oppressive uses and I think that perhaps it is time for me to be more thoughtful about how to use my project to do some creative transforming. Although, without any intent, my project has been able to empower many to take risks and be strong about being themselves, regardless of what social category society says you are, now perhaps the time has come to be more intentional.
I was taken up short, and for good reason, by an Op-Ed by Chris Wallace on this weekend’s bibliography about the “Image Economy” of which I had to admit I am a member in good standing. Calling us all “editors-in-chief of us.com”, he maintains we are all creating identities from the same “drop down” menu created pretty much by market forces and not always by us. Some of the time, not all, for me, guilty as charged. For me this presents challenges around authenticity, agency and obsolescence as well as the tension and belief that helping others is not or should not be, compatible with making money. The author believes that what sets the image economy apart (because we have ownership over how and what we project) is that we have “real, revolutionary potential” to change the world. Whether it is modeling new ways to behave (and interact with each other), developing new modes of exchange and to truly be visionaries, the author laments we do not seem to be thinking critically about our power in ways that can build “new cities of tolerance and creativity”.
I think I am going to take Mr. Wallace up on his challenge. I still want to wear my black beret but now it may mean something entirely different.
How might fashion be part of building “New Cities of Tolerance and Creativity”?
How do we join together to BUILD BRIDGES OF TOLERANCE. Actions always speak louder than words. THE force of KINDNESS IN ACTION breeds tolerance so that we may COEXIST. Can our ACCIDENTAL ICON persuade the artists and designers of today to create a movement of expression that is powerful enough to inspire KINDNESS IN ACTION?
I will most certainly try! I must say the kindness that has been extended to me from people I have met thus far does give me hope!
This may go in a direction different than other responses as this inspired thinking aloud … and maybe a good deal of odd or unfinished thought fragments:
When reading this and Chris Wallace’s Op-Ed, the first thoughts I had were around words like “fashion”, “tolerance”, “diversity”, “inclusion” and “creativity” find the same implication in common: “fragility”. Of which, most find difficulty in showing, even if we as individuals show our audience (other individuals) that there is no harm.
For as much as I am willing to share yet even in the political climate we are in, I find this hard to do for fear of …. something. Rejection. Shame. Misunderstanding. What have you. But this is verbal. In fashion, clothing, presentation, I wear the entire rainbow of black (and other darker colors) and much like you, I am known for it and my personality is attached to it. The things I say, the things I do, the facial expressions I make – be it joyous with friends, buying treats for my cats and chatting up those I know in the store or simply walking down the street – people know that likely the woman walking down the Ave in black is me.
They also know when I wear color … because I am awkward in it. I get the “Oh that’s Kymmie … What’s wrong? You look harried … are you ok? Oh yes – I am just wearing teal today. See?” Strange how I show fragility (albeit, cosmetic) in wearing something out of the norm and am irretrievably uncomfortable in sharing/wearing it.
So then we can use things/literature/style we do not know about, learn from them, and use what we do know to share our learnings to encourage universal creativity.
Thanks for making me dig around in my head a bit today. Will likely think more on it.
Self-acceptance does seem to be a condition required to take a risk. I think a stance of experimentation where you try something always knowing you may fail, may be an important trait to cultivate. What can we say when someone addresses our difference? Something that is educational and productive? What to say to the person who says you look harried because you experimented with something new? We are always a little "wobbly" when we are trying something new or unfamiliar. That may be the fragile time. But then we either reject it and move on or keep playing.
I love this piece. You do not need to be encumbered to create social changeall by yourself within the fashion industry. Lol. Your writing is always fresh, honest, intentional, and informative; henceforth, you have done so much to influence people directly and indirectly. It’s not unlike cruelty against animals, such as refusing to serve foie gras or refusing to purchase angora because of how these practices torture animals. It’s one person, one designer, one business at a time who has the courage to defend integrity over income. Your post is such a lovely confirmation for me as I’ve created a new social media platform that supports urban gardening, more independence through gardening autonomy despite lack of traditional gardening space. And I can continue to use infuse this endeavor with beautiful creativity. Aside from that, focusing on creating greater kindness – kindness can simply begin with putting the cell phone down and speaking to the person sitting next to us on the bus, the train, plane, walking close by on the sidewalk, when seeing a neighbor in the parking lot, lawn, etc. Great topic, great narrative.
Carmen
Aristotilean Style and a Big Dog (Instagram)
ChickaChickaFarmFarm (Instagram)
This is the perfect example of what I was speaking about. Rather than focus on larger structures where we literally have no control anymore, starting at our local space one person at a time is how we can build our "cities" . You are a perfect example. I love your project! Creative and sustainable.