Feminism and Fashion

Since this is my first entry for FairJAKE let me introduce myself: My name is Lisa. I am a human rights’ advocate. I cry at the animal cruelty commercials with that Sarah McLachlan song. I am an ethical eater. I know every line from Arrested Development. I am an unyielding feminist. So when my friend Kim asked me to contribute to a style blog, how did I respond? (Well obviously you can guess…)

Feminist aren’t all bra-burning (although some of us are) and we don’t all wear Birkenstocks (although some of us do). I love fashion… especially shoes… ridiculously high-heeled shoes… shoes that I can’t walk in gracefully.

I’ve heard the arguments. High-heels are reminiscent of foot-binding practices. By following fashion trends we are forsaking our foremothers and re-embracing patriarchal oppression that reduces our identities to how we look. This is enough to reduce any fashionista-feminist to guilt.

Surely we have come far enough to know that “pretty” and “smart” can describe the same woman… in the right context. (Dear KTR, Fox News and others: I do not care what designer Hillary Clinton is wearing or whether she is wearing makeup, she is the US Secretary of State… I’m sure she has something about international affairs to share.)

Fashion can be a unique historical device. Usually you can guess the era of a photograph or movie quickly based on clothing. Think of bellbottoms and headbands. For me, this leads my mind to peace signs and daisies in tanks. This is what fashion does. It brands a decade, and then conjures up relevant images.

In this way, fashion presents a valuable tool in tracing the Western feminist movement. For example, as women shifted into the public sphere, so did their outfits. Trousers were deemed more appropriate for industry and outdoors. Pants slowly seeped into casual wear, catalysed by public figures like Katherine Hepburn. Downton Abbey fans will remember Sybil arriving at dinner wearing a gorgeous pair of pants, coinciding with her new career and cross-class romance. Period television shows often heralded for their authenticity present a unique opportunity for us to see how wardrobe interacted with women of that era.

This is not to say that we should all follow the mode. It comes down to what feminism is really about: Choice. Yes, this is a bit oversimplified. But really, feminism is about not being restricted by your gender or sex. It is about control over your body. As Coco Chanel said about her collection in the 1920s, (which, *gasp!* included pants): "I gave women a sense of freedom," she once said. "I gave them back their bodies.”

So, ROCK ON! I don’t feel ironic when I rant about systemic discrimination in my high-heels; I feel beautiful and comfortable. If you feel this way wearing your mini skirt, your blouse buttoned to the neck, your Birkenstocks, or your FairJAKE scarf (shameless plug), strut your stuff proudly. As a certain FairJAKE designer told me, “style is mostly about how you wear it. Wear clothing with confidence!”