Roaming around London one would see a lot of people, and the first thing one notices about those people is their clothes and their sense of fashion. This is not just something people put on, it is what people do to show the world who they are. The specific area in which I did research was Covent Gardens. This area is populated with mostly tourists, and people who want to shop in the market. There were street performers, there were small shop keepers, and in addition business men. This was a place were everyone went not only for entertainment but also for work. The Covent Gardens is a place where people dress to show everyone who they are, weather that means socially, economically or otherwise.
The Street Performers dressed for the entertainment of the people watching them. They needed to stand out and that is exactly what they did. They fit into a group of people that break off from the traditional views of dress. They dress for the entertainment of the public, forcing them to distinguish themselves from the general population. The two street performers in particular are ones that cover themselves in metallic paint and grasp the attention of the people around them. This is these peoples jobs, this their form of living. This attire is their uniform. This attire forces these men into a certain class identification. Georg Simmel focuses on how groups function to enforce certain standards and conformity (138). These groups are brought together through their fashion choice. Street performers are their own group, forced to conform to a different style of dress in order to survive in the modern world.
On the other hand we have the general public. These people dress mostly to societal expectations. They show their class and societal standing by the clothes they wear. The men in particular wear jeans and a suit jacket. These men are all clean cut, and are out enjoying themselves. These men wear clothes that make them seem as if they are members of the upper middle class. They show their socio economic status buy the clothes they wear. In addition they are trying to show the public their masculinity. They wear clothes that emphasizes their masculine characteristics, like their broad shoulders. In addition they wear traditionally masculine colors. Though as you see there are some men that wear brighter colors. What makes it okay for them to wear the bright colors is that in this sense they are not seen as feminine. The brighter colors that are usually associated with feminine characteristics are not seen as feminine on these men, due to the rest of the mens fashion. The men come off to the public as upper middle class, due to their fashion choices. To these men it is important to notice that they have a keen sense in making sure that they look masculine to the public. They do not want to come off as feminine. They pride themselves in the clothes they wear, and do not take fashion risks. These men are men that would not wear a dress in public. They are not feminine. They are a man’s man.
There was however a man that wore something that would not be seen as feminine. He wore a yellow shirt on top of an orange one. These are colors that can be seen as feminine, but when they are on this one individual they are not. The reason this is, is because this man is an older individual, which allows him to get away with certain things. In addition he has a shaved head. This helps him look masculine without having to fit the color scheme for a traditional masculine man. There are standards in society that need to be kept to keep the line between masculine and feminine attire separate. But there are certain situations where that line is skewed. This man depicts a situation in which the line between masculine and famine attire does not really exist. He is wearing bright colors, but he is still seen as a masculine man. That is because when it comes to certain individuals the line is not necessarily as defined when it comes to the general public.
For the women there was a range of different styles. There were those that wore bright clothing and those that wore dark clothing. For both women found in the area they were clearly feminine. One of the women was wearing all black. And although she was wearing all black she was still wearing things that clearly distinguish her as a female. She was wearing skin tight pants, that of which are traditionally feminine. She also had long hair. What was surprising is the black, on black, on black she was wearing. This is something that may be looked down upon because it’s so much back, but she pulls it off. This may be because of the different textures the has incorporated in her outfit. She is wearing a leather jacket over a black sweater. This shows that she has different tones of black within her outfit making it socially acceptable. This individual is showing that she is feminine in an outfit that could be misconstrued as putting her in a different group. This woman may not fit the traditional feminine fashion roles, but her way of presenting herself makes her look feminine but a little edgy.
On the other hand there was one woman that did dress extremely feminine. She was wearing a bright flowery skirt. Something that would instantly prove that she is feminine. This woman though she is dressed completely different from the woman wearing all black she portrays an image that is predominately feminine. Though the feminine image she is portraying is one that is slightly different from the woman above. This portrayal of femininity is a little more traditional. This woman not only seems approachable, but she seems nicer than the woman wearing all black. The different portrayals of femininity show that a woman can dress as she pleases, what will change is the thought if a woman is edgy or traditional. This is something a man cannot do. They have to wear certain things, but if they wear a skirt they are instantly looked at and seen as feminine. This depicts the double standard between men and women. Women are allowed to wear pants, and society accepts that, but when a man wears a dress they are instantly looked at as being a homosexual, or as an individual who wants to be a woman(123). Feminists around the world have noticed this standard set between the sexes. If one is a man they cannot wear a dress, yet if one identifies as female they can wear a dress, but they also have the option of wearing pants without having their femininity challenged.
Karl Marx would look at these groups of people and see a divide. He sees those that were dressed in a fashion that is above those that are working on the streets. Karl Marx believed in equality among the classes though the way these people dressed showed that there was clearly a divide. It was a divide among those that can afford to be at the shops, and buy things, and those who were there to serve the higher classes.
During the research assignment there were a group of ladies we talked to there were wearing red hats. Now before I get into the red hats there was something that we encountered that stood out to me. One of the ladies asked my partner if I was her little brother. This shows how fashion, could make people think that you are a gender that you are not. Just because I dress more masculine, it was assumed that I was a male. The combination of short hair, and a neutral color tone, and clothes that is typically worn by men, gave the impression to these women that I was a man. Though I do not take offense to being mistaken for a man I thought it was interesting to point out that because of my attire that is what happened. My gender was assumed for me because I tend to dress on the more masculine side.
Now the women in red hats were a particularly interesting group. They were all women of a certain age who wear red hats and go on an outing and just enjoy themselves. The tradition of the “red hatters” started in the states, and then started to grow around the world. The red hat specifically does not mean anything. Thought the hat represents a broader society. One that focuses on interpersonal relationships that get developed. The group is a way that these women get away from their homes and enjoy time with their friends.
Personally I knew that fashion had a lot to do with a person, and the groups of people they hung out with, and the types of things they did, and the way they presented themselves to the public. One’s fashion sense id the first thing that a stranger notices and that is the first impression you give off. That first impression is key to the image one will leave on the rest of the population. It is what people see first and immediately they will make an assumption of you. You could be the nicest person in the world but if you are wearing all black and leather and have spiked hair then you are automatically assumed to be a mean and rugged person.
The class has opened my eyes to see that they way we look at fashion is very important. Fashion in general is something that has been created by society, and there are certain rules that need to be followed. Rules that are set by societal standards, and are constantly changed by society. Rule that if one does not follow them they are instantly outsiders. There are rules not only set for main stream fashion but for the outer groups as well. Fashion is a way to connect with others but there are times when the fashion one shows is not what they want. Fashion is used to constrain people, and force them to fit societal standards. Fashion is not seen as something that should be taken at face value, it goes deeper than.
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