BLOG POST 1

The first lecture I viewed/streamed online was about POWER given by Julia Crew on the 10th of February. I really enjoyed this lecture because I was able to grasp properly how the concept of power was closely linked and tied to fashion. I have always agreed with the idea that clothes have the ability to acutely describe a person and speak to an audience. As the lecture proceeded I started to notice how not only the broad and general concept of fashion has power, but also the fact that the garments themselves hold specific levels of that power, and said levels withhold some type of authority. If one traces back to years or even centuries ago, the clothes which were most valued and wanted, were those of individuals who belonged to the royalty, suggesting that power in clothing had to do with the status of the person wearing it, as well as the materials used to make these garments which were exclusive given that royalty would be wearing them. Something I also found extremely interesting was the fact that clothes are symbolic and not just aesthetic. Military dresses, as described by Julia Crew, hold a deeper meaning than the one appearing on the surface. Military clothing serves as a portrayal of power, hierarchy, oppression, leadership or even dictatorship. Another example of this would be the classic business suit, which delivers a sense of professionalism and seriousness, making individuals seem to be more trustworthy and clean or put together. Additionally, not only do the garments which are inanimate objects hold their own power, but the people in the fashion industry itself who have a high and respectable status. A clear example of this is Anna Wintour, Vogue Editor. Wintour’s word will weigh much more than that of many other significant people in the industry because of the reputation she has gained across the fashion platform in general, using her own power as a tool for fashion’s success or failure. 

Another interesting “concept” explored by Crew in her lecture was the idea that power should lie in creativity and exist in the presence of original clothing yet in the 21rst century, power lies in economic power, suggesting that a handmade garment made out of precious materials will be less expensive than that of a brand known internationally throughout social media or in the fashion world. In my opinion, this is extremely damaging to the fashion industry given that creativity will decrease constantly and status will be defined by the monetary value of clothing. Another example in the industry of a person who has used the power that he/she has received and built up throughout the years, is Vivienne Westwood. Westwood traditionally uses her catwalks as an opportunity to express political concerns she shares with her audience. She uses activists as models and manages to blend in her fashion practice with environmental activism using her own power in the form of authority to raise awareness on different topics. I believe this is a great example of how power is used correctly instead of misused.