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Expository Writing Final Project
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An Influential Aspect of Society
FASHION TODAY:
Alanna McGuiggan | Expository Writing 201 | Professor Gonso
fashion today
Though many people believe fashion is a
superficial, unnecessary aspect of life, it is an
incredibly influential component of society
today.
In diverse areas such as politics, the Olympics
and business, fashion is a powerful force that
has the ability to alter the beliefs and
perceptions of others.
Fashion is also a common element of
charitable endeavors. Consumers love to
advertise their favorite causes through
apparel, and clothing donations can also help
those in need attain the minimum essentials
necessary for survival.
Overall, fashion is far more important than
many people realize. The way that you present
yourself can affect how you are perceived by
others, whether you are a politician, an
athlete or a young college graduate
looking for a job.
table of contents
History of Fashion
Presidential Election
Cultural Identity
Fashion Charities
Corporate Fashion
Sources
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in the past...
Throughout the twentieth century, fashion was an incredibly influential
aspect of life. Clothing largely established the stereotypical gender roles
of this time period, ensuring the traditional homemaker status of females.
During the 1900s, fashion was a symbol of social
status in an incredibly class-conscious society.
Wardrobes of the early twentieth century emphasized
womanly features of the body such as the bust, hips
and waist, largely reflecting females‟ conventional role
in society as homemakers and wives.
The 1920s was a decade during which feminine fashions
symbolized females‟ newfound desire for freedom from
their traditional roles in society.
Clothing included bobbed hair, loose-fitting dresses with
short skirts, rolled stockings, beaded necklaces and
slouchy hats with brims.
During the 1980s, wealth and power were symbolized through female
fashions as the Reagan years brought prosperity to many Americans. Women
wore fur coats, expensive jewelry and silk blouses to symbolize their success.
Wide, sculptural belts worn at small waistlines as well as narrow, short skirts
provided contrast for the strong shoulders and newly fitted silhouette of this
decade.
today... Today, the rigid gender discrepancies in the fashion industry have largely
disappeared. Females of the twenty-first century can be seen in masculine
blazers, boyfriend jeans and loafers, which is a significant progression
from the strictly feminine fashions of the past.
As shown on both the runway and in the style
choices of celebrities, many modern female fashions
are largely inspired by menswear. Women are free to
choose between feminine and masculine pieces with-
out worrying that their wardrobe choices will lead to
their regression to conventional household roles.
Throughout the twentieth century, fashion was a
way of enforcing gender stereotypes amongst
society. Though the role of fashion has changed
today, clothing remains highly influential.
Fashion‟s modern importance is showcased
through a variety of current events and world
issues. For example, politics, sporting events and
charitable endeavors all prove that fashion
remains important today.
“I can‟t imagine marginalizing image;
it‟s critical. The clothes we wear send a
message about how we want to be
perceived, and how we want to present
ourselves to the world. I would think
that there should be just as many image
consultants involved in these campaigns
as there are speechwriters.”
- Tim Gunn
(of Project Runway & Parsons School of Design)
As a female,
Clinton’s
appearance
garnered far
more
coverage in
the media
than other
presidential candidates. After
her face had a dewy, wrinkle-
free complexion at a debate,
anti-Clinton reporters and
bloggers quickly claimed that
she must have had Botox
injections. After another
debate, MSNBC host Chris
Matthews praised Clinton for
her “demure, ladylike”
demeanor, comparing her to
Grace Kelly. The constant
focus on Hillary Clinton’s
appearance throughout the
most recent Presidential Race
proves that fashion certainly
does impact perceptions, even
in irrelevant areas such as
politics.
“With such weighty issues at
hand, instead we‟re focusing on
whether her blouse is too low-cut
or her hair is styled properly?”
- Katherine Spillar,
Ms. Magazine Editor
Instead of wearing the
suit-and-tie combination
typical of presidential
candidates, Edwards
announced his
candidacy in jeans and a
work shirt.
"Half the time he's not even in a jacket. The fact he's
confident enough not to need to be in a perfect suit is
very interesting."
- Wendell Brown,
Esquire Senior Fashion Editor
Romney’s traditional grooming
and suits mirrored his corporate
credentials and conservative
political philosophy .
“It goes beyond attire, it [signals] that he's
ready to bring the same approach he had in
business to promoting change and
innovation to Washington.”
- Alex Burgos,
Romney Campaign Spokesman
Praised for his style in GQ, Esquire and Vibe, Barack Obama is
known to break the rules of political fashion. On Jon Stewart’s
Daily Show, Obama appeared without a tie, which is an
unconventional style for a presidential candidate. Obama also
appeared on David Letterman’s show, where instead of sporting the
traditional navy suit, he wore a black suit with a blue tie. In
response to his attire, Letterman noted that it was a “tremendous,
very electable suit.” Obama’s unique style was praised during his
campaign, and mirrored his reputation as a candidate of change.
“He looks like he cares about his appearance and has a good tailor.
His suits fit him correctly.”
- Wendell Brown,
Esquire Senior Fashion Editor
As the youngest first lady in recent history, Michelle Obama’s
youthful approach to fashion has made her an icon amongst
American women. According to professionals, Michelle Obama
has the power to make the American fashion industry popular
through her wardrobe choices. By mixing designer labels with
off-the-rack pieces, Michelle has influenced the style of the
typical American woman.
“She could potentially do what Jackie Kennedy did, bring about
a new awareness and a fresh outlook, just by not being so
intentionally „first lady,‟ by mixing designer things with off the
rack. She can give a big boost to the American fashion industry
— and we need all the help we can get.”
- Anna Sui,
Fashion Designer
"Michelle Obama connects to the modern woman. She has a real
woman look to her but is even bigger and better. She has a sleek
style that's not overdone. ... She's beautifully dressed without too
much fuss. She puts on the dress and goes — and it's always a
good dress."
- Amy Fine Collins,
Vanity Fair Correspondent
One strong example of fashion being a part of
one‟s identity is shown in the Muslim faith,
which requires females to dress modestly. Asra
Nomani, author of “Standing Alone in Mecca:
An American Woman‟s Struggle for the Soul of
Islam,” noted that for Muslim females, getting
dressed is a “really intentional, mindful event in
our lives every day.” Nomani noted that what a
Muslim woman wears is “a critical part of her
identity.”
Muslim women are encouraged to wear a hijab,
which is a head covering that has been the
subject of much controversy. Some view the
hijab as a politically charged symbol of radical
Islam and of female subjugation. The Council on
American-Islamic Relations conducted a survey
last year that showed that almost half of
Americans think Islam encourages the
oppression of women. Aysha Hussain, a 24-year-
old Muslim journalist living in New York, noted
that “Many of these people think, „Oh, if a
woman is covered, she must be oppressed.‟”
Aysha Hussain, like many Muslims, has made a
point to wear the hijab after September 11th .
She noted, “Politically, it lets people know
you‟re not trying to hide from them.” Astra
Nomani furthered her statement, saying that
there is a pressure to show your faith among
young Muslims. Fusing modern and Muslim
apparel, Nomani noted, is youth‟s way of saying
“‟I‟m Muslim and I‟m proud.‟”
olympics
As a monunmental event watched on worldwide stage, the Olympics inspire
strong national pride amongst both competitors and viewers. Since the
beginning of the Olympics, fashion has been an intricate component of the
cultural element of the games.
The Opening Ceremony of the Olympics is one of the most celebrated
portions of this event, with each country represented in matching uniforms.
The fashions of this event prove that clothing can in fact influence one‟s
identity, as shown through the wardrobe selections of the most recent
Olympic Games.
As shown in Vancouver, the national uniforms of the Opening Ceremony
frequently represent the stereotypes and symbols of a country. Athletes from
Bermuda, for instance, donned knee-length “Bermuda” shorts at the event.
French athletes wore berets, the British dressed in preppy apparel, and the
American outfit was inspired by the classic attire of 1950s East Coast
America.
The diverse apparel of the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics proves that
fashion choices can result in cultural associations which shape one‟s identity.
By associating themselves with previously formulated stereotypes,
Olympians proved that fashion can in fact influence exterior perceptions.
From left: Bermuda Shorts, Classic American Style and British Preppy at the Vancouver Olympic Games
TOMS Shoes was founded in Venice, California in
2006 with the vision that for every pair of shoes
purchased by a consumer, another pair would be
donated to a child in need. TOMS thus combined a
profitable fashion brand with a humanitarian cause;
consumers enjoy a visible sense of goodwill as a
result of their purchase, and a child in need benefits
from the company with a free pair of shoes.
In only four years, TOMS has donated over 600,000
pairs of shoes to children in need. In addition, TOMS
has made a promise to give 100,000 pairs of shoes to
children in Haiti.
An initiative started by Bobby Shriver of DATA and
Bono of U2, Product Red is a brand licensed to a variety
of companies with a mission of raising money for the
Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
Fashionable partner companies such as Gap, Converse
and Emporio Armani are all licensed to create products
with the Product Red logo. These companies donate a
portion of proceeds from their Product Red products to
the Global Fund. Consumers love this brand, as a variety
of the Product Red items can be seen on people from all
walks of life. Product Red is thus another example of
how fashion can influence our world today; in this case,
by helping to end several deadly diseases.
Fashion Delivers Charitable Foundation, Inc. was founded in
2005 with the mission of mobilizing the women‟s and men‟s
apparel industries to aid victims of disasters around the
world. Since its founding, Fashion Delivers has donated over
fifty five million dollars in product to those in need. Fashion
Delivers has helped victims of disasters such as Hurricane
Katrina, Hurricane Rita, the California wildfires and the
earthquake in Haiti. Fashion Delivers has been supported by
a variety of well-known companies, including Forever21,
Polo Ralph Lauren, Free People (Urban Outfitters), Macy‟s,
Converse, American Apparel and Armani Exchange.
Launched in the United Kingdom in 1996, Fashion
Targets Breast Cancer was launched an organization
called Breakthrough Breast Cancer. Best known for its
target logo tee shirt designed by Ralph Lauren, this
campaign has raised almost ten million pounds for
Breakthrough Breast Cancer. Fashion Targets Breast
Cancer is now the United Kingdom‟s most prominent
charitable fashion campaign, and is supported by the
entire British fashion industry.
These four charities are only a sampling of the positive contributions the fashion
industry makes to the well-being of others, but they prove that fashion does in fact
have a positive influence on society. Consumers love to purchase apparel that will
raise awareness for their favorite causes and thus entice others to donate to charities.
“Frankly, in an interview you are on your best
behavior and I‟m on my best behavior, so everyone has to
look good. f you can‟t get it together in an
interview then I‟m not sure you‟re going to have
appropriate judgment with a client.”
- Patty Bigruglio,
MMI Associates President
"In our economic times, you really want to have your
game on. You can't be too formal.”
- Gretchen Neels, Boston Communications Consultant
"We focus so much on gaining that elusive informational edge on our
jobs that we tend to forget that our appearance can help put us
over the edge of that promotion, job offer, etc.” - Diana Sonis, New York Hedge Fund Worker
Clothes & Accessories are Powerful Symbols in the Workplace...
One unmarried hedge fund employee wore a
fake engagement ring to seem more mature
and less available to male employees.
Another female employee said her
engagement ring has strengthened her
professional relationships with colleagues of
the opposite gender.
“People who dress
better are typically
treated better at
work. They are
usually given more
responsibility and are
shown much more
respect." - David McKnight
New York City-based
Image Consultant
sources
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
CULTURAL IDENTITY
FASHION CHARITIES
CORPORATE FASHION
http://www.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/fashion/2007-10-14-campaign-fashion-side_N.htm
http://www.newsweek.com/id/108013/page/3
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/11/05/fashion/20081106-michelle-
slideshow_17.html
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/25939033/
http://tsl.pomona.edu/new/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=879:fashion-
statements-in-the-2010-olympic-games&catid=28:life-a-style&Itemid=80
http://www.webdesigncool.com/the-winter-olympics-uniforms-for-god-country-fashion-and-
sport
http://www.nytimes.com/glogin?URI=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/05/
fashion/05MUSLIM.html&OQ=_rQ3D2&OP=69bc4042Q2FW5Q60)
WmhbjahhQ20Q51WQ51uu@WukWu4WqQ24jyZh6Wu4nLQ3DQ5ERnAyQ201c
http://www.joinred.com/
http://www.fashiondelivers.org/
www.toms.com
www.fashiontargetsbreastcancer.org
http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/career-articles-the_rules_of_workplace_style-535
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19806512/
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123380523253950975.html
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123863590242781251.html
HISTORY OF FASHION
http://www.costumegallery.com/research.htm