what is fashion?

I sometimes wonder why some things are in fashion and others are not. You can look at something and think that it's sure to be a winner, and then it isn't. It's a great design, it looks good, but only you think so. Maybe that doesn't matter. I've started to think fashion is a bit like the stock market - once a few people seem interested in it, it attracts a few more, and before you know it everyone's bought one (sound like Ipod?). So maybe instead of being slaves to fashion trends all the time, we should break out now and again and try something different, just because we like it. I love wearing flat flip flop sandals, much to one of my friend's dismay (although we do live in a beach town) and when we went out to dinner the other night she took one look at me and said "you're not wearing flats are you?". In a town where the only prerequisite in most restaurants is that you wear shirt and shoes to get in, I didn't think this was a big problem.

The New York Times had a couple of articles today that made me think that being different now and again isn't such a problem, in fact you may be able to turn it to your advantage. One report about menswear designer Thom Browne, showed photos of his suits which sell for $3,500 each. They appear to have nothing going for them. They are too expensive for most people, made of old-man fabrics, and the style looks pretty odd - they have pants which are just a bit too short, and he recommends wearing business shoes and no socks with them. Five years ago the look he created was said to be sweet but goofy - just the image every businessman is striving for! So what happened? He has just won the Council of Fashion Designers of America award as menswear designer of the year! He's also been signed up by Brooks Brothers for a special collection, DKNY, Zegna and Nom de Guerre. Now instead of being labeled Pee-wee Herman with his short, skinny suits, Thom Browne is labeled as a pioneer in men's fashion who has taken the same old suit that men put on every morning and made it into something different which is an amazing feat.

The other article, also in the New York Times was about Dan Ho
(not Tiny Bubbles Don Ho) who, despite being viewed as eccentric and odd by friends and family, decided to sell off many of his personal possessions, including houses, sofas, and ceramics and unburden himself of the trappings which are seen as essential to getting by in life. He believes that our constant preoccupation with building and rebuilding, never being happy with the houses we buy, and the idea that you should always be ready for drop-in guests, are all enslaving myths. In fact, his views are the total opposite to those of Martha Stewart, who is undeniably very successful. So could this concept work?

After several unsuccessful attempts at self-funded magazines, Mr. Ho still persevered with his belief that his views of a simpler, healthier way of life were shared by others, and his perseverance paid off when his book, "Rescue from Domestic Perfection" was published by Bullfinch, and he was signed up for a television program on the Discovery Health Channel, "The Dan Ho Show" which makes its debut this week, and will begin appearing regularly in January.

My thoughts on this led me to the conclusion that if you have an idea that you think is great, or want to wear something that makes you feel good, or you feel like dyeing your hair green, go ahead and do it. Don't listen to the opinions of the masses who need you to be like them to validate their choices. Who knows, you may just start the next great fashion.