Friend Friday: Feminism

This weeks FBFF asks the deeper questions about feminism and fashion. How would you answer these questions?

Do you think there is an incompatibility between feminism and a love for fashion?

I don’t think so. I think there is an incompatibility in the idea of it, not in the actuality.

There is more to each of us than a love for fashion, how do you incorporate every aspect of yourself into your blog?

I just do it. I post pictures of the events that are happening in my life, which includes my family and friends. Although I have a love for fashion, it can’t be everything that I think about and I want my blog to show that I incorporate it into my everyday life. As a mother, wife and creative and intelligent individual, everything that touches my life touches my blog, which happens to include fashion.

With the fashion industry still being a male-dominated profession, how do you think it would differ if women played a larger role?

I currently work in an environment where women are in the more prominent positions, and I feel the decisions wouldn’t be made any differently had it been male dominated. I think the same would be for the fashion industry. If I as a consumer am making the ultimate decision to purchase, regardless of the gender who created them, how would that make a difference if women played a larger role? The choice is ultimately mine. I purchased Rodarte and Tucker clothing before realizing these were lines designed by women. But that doesn’t mean I won’t still buy clothing by Alexander McQueen or Zac Posen. One of my favorite designers is Alice Temperly, but because she has good designs, not because she is female. If the design is well-done, I feel it shouldn’t matter if a male or female designer creates it.

How is your self-image and the way you carry yourself (in)formed by your beliefs?

I think modesty does play some part in how I dress. There is a time and place for a certain way of dress. When going to church, I try to make my outfits slightly more dressy and I try not to expose too much skin. I avoid short skirts or tank tops. But when going to the beach or park, it’s appropriate to wear strapless tops or clothing that shows bare arms and legs. All these things that come to mind when I dress are a direct influence of my Catholic upbringing.

Do you think clothing/makeup/hair helps communicate the truth about yourself or are those things superfluous add-ons?

Very much so! How can it not? I was watching an episode of “What Not To Wear” where a new doctor refused to care about her clothing and appearance because she thought that it would detract from her ability to be taken seriously as an intelligent woman in her profession. Once Clinton Kelly and Stacy London showed her that she can feel good about herself without feeling guilty of being superficial because it’s “just clothing”, her whole demeanor changed and her ideas of fashion and beauty therefore changed. It’s not a crime to want to look and feel good about yourself. I think people can not only showcase their personalities through clothing and beauty, but it can also show creativity. People should let go of the notion that fashion is only for a certain set of people and embrace the fact that it can be fun and can make you feel worlds better.

Fashion Beauty Friend Friday is a Google group for bloggers to converse on a given topic each week. Katy from ModlyChic sends the questions, bloggers post their responses and then add their post to the list of people sharing their thoughts on the subject matter. To get started, check out this great tutorial on Grit & Glamour here.

(Image courtesy of Valentina Ramos, available at her Etsy shop here)