Posted on October 24, 2016 by preciosoforecasting
by John Mark Stella
What you wear is a reflection of how you feel. Fashion can be used to express your attitude and personality. Today, rebellion is the latest expression of America's dominating attitude. We feel empowered by our freedom and ability to rebel against social standards.
Collin Kaepernick is the latest display of fashionable rebellion. Fashion's relation to a political protest characterizes Americans' need for instant gratification. With fashion, we have the ability to feel that we are contributing to a political cause through our clothes. Colin Kaepernick's jersey is currently the highest-selling jersey in the NFL, and he's not even a starter. This reveals the desire that our nation has to rebel against the social standard, which in this case is masked by the political issue of racial inequality. Not only do we recognize rebellion relating to fashion in a political manner, but we also see it relating to fashion in self-expression.
For years, people have dressed according to the traditional gender roles they are labeled with at birth. Recently, fashion has blurred those lines. Hilary Clinton dresses in
way that reflects power and professionalism, a fashion traditionally associated with men. While Jaden Smith, is a male whose fashion choices reflect traditional female attire. This is both a rebellion against traditional social standards as well as a reflection of the growing LGBT community. Although they act sincerely and not firmly rebelliously, celebrities like Caitlyn Jenner help mainstream the concept of gender-blurred fashion. The desire of rebellion against the social standard reflects our concern for a fair depiction of realism.
If you were to only have access to social media and television, your understanding of women can be misguided and flawed. A-list celebrities and models do not accurately represent the typical body form. However, plus size actress Melisa McCarthy has answered the cry long awaited by mainstream plus size women. Plus size women have wanted the same style and variety that average size women have always been able to enjoy. Her brand offers current trend fashion that flatters the plus size figure. In a rebellion against false authenticity, plus size models have become one of America's latest fashion statements. Sports Illustrated brought attention to the topic when they revealed the first plus size model ever to appear on the cover of the Swimsuit Issue. In this respect, fashion reflects a desire to rebel strictly in the sense that we want to rebel against false reality.
In every decade, there is a place that expresses a degree of rebellion and traditionalism as people continue struggling with the part of them that wants to be a part of something bigger than them. When considering the latest fashion trends, rebellion is not a way to destroy tradition norms, but rather it is a way to improve the future through reformation. To fight against racial injustice, restrictive gender roles, and a false depiction of reality are good. It is only rebellious in the since that the fashion contradicts the social norm, even though that norm is flawed.
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Heitner, D. (2016, Sept 7). Colin Kaepernick Tops Jersey Sales in NFL. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/darrenheitner/2016/09/07/colin-kaepernick-tops-jersey-sales-in-nfl/#19be44be39a1
White, E. (2016, Sept 11). Hillary Clinton's Red Pantsuit Was A Great Metaphor For Last Night's Debate. Retrieved from http://www.refinery29.com/2016/09/124550/hillary-clinton-red-pant-suit-funny-tweets
Kenneally, T. (2016, March 14). Jaden Smith on His Fashion Sense: 'I Don't See Man Clothes and Woman Clothes.' Retrieved from http://www.thewrap.com/jaden-smith-on-his-fashion-sense-i-dont-see-man-clothes-and-woman-clothes/
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