“The Fashion’s Capital” our Slogan Will Probably Never Be.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Photo from The Washington Post.
In the comments for this post yesterday, reader Melanie writes:
I don’t mean to be a hater on the DC Scene and all but this is the reason why no one takes this city seriously..None of those garments would get a second glance in NY. All the good designers who are from here just move to NYC or LA to further their careers because of the market. If DC thinks this is great then it obviously shows the lack of fashion knowledge or interest in this city.
I doubt any fashiony person in the room Saturday night found the show great. Great is like, Vivienne Westwood. On the one hand, this is only one example of a fashion event in Washington and so you can’t really make too many generalizations….but, touche, DC is a town pretty much consumed with running the country, not with discussing breakthrough design or celebrating the trendsetting/unconventionally dressed. Great talent often can’t survive here (or can it? Any indie designers in the room?) and many folks here have a limited definition of what “style” can mean. Which is indeed frustrating. Some argue that DC’s political focus is a big part of this; in a place where campaigns & the economy are normal bar conversation fodder, talk of fashion can come off as dippy (at least I worry that it can). The Hill dictates many other things here–traffic schedules, social climbing backdrops–so why wouldn’t its traditional nature affect modes of dress? The result is that Washington follows its own rules too much, I think. However….
What I find most heartening and interesting part of doing this blog is observing the sheer fact that people’s attitudes about fashion are changing. Female politicians and high-powered executives are finding themselves able to “do both,” J.Crew isn’t thought of as high fashion here anymore, cool independent boutiques are opening up all of the time. I find it truly inspiring whenever I stumble across someone in town with a look far from the K or MStreet-beaten path, and it happens more than you’d think.
But it’s still DC, so generally too much rule-following, too much of a focus on what’s appropriate, and the lack of nerve to really carve out one’s own unique, personal style. But maybe that’s hard when you work for a conservative think tank.
It’s just one of those weird repressed-fashion-lover problems to uniquely specific to DC, and it’s at once annoying and totally interesting if you really like Washington. It’s ultimately what I found most interesting about doing a fashion blog in DC in the first place. I think Washington is a town full of style-starved closet fashionistas (I despise the word fashionista, but it just kinda sounded right): The high-powered Republican staffer who has his proscribed khaki-and-oxford costume but reads The Sartorialist and dabbles in vintage on the weekends….the Georgetown-darling partygirl who wears pretty dresses to parties but dreams of pulling off Kate Moss’s rumply, effortless chic or of channeling even a smidge of Dita Von Teese’s dramatic pinup-girl-come-to-life-aesthetic.
I wish I had a dollar for every person I’ve engaged on this topic who’s quipped some version of, “Well, DC needs some fashion sense!” However, most of them qualify that with “but things are changing.” I find that encouraging at least.
What do people think of the issue Melanie raises?
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Rachel- there should have been a censored version of that with an option to click through to the NSFW picture. If I ate more than adderall, I would have thrown up.
First, let me just say that I adore George’s Socks ‘n Crocs look. Just adorable. /sarcasm
Regarding the comment, I liken the mentality to that of a person dissatisfied with their weight who sits down and eats a box of twinkies because, “at least it makes me happy.”
“Well, all the talent leaves for NYC so I may as well wear my stained sweatpants out.” That makes no sense.
DC isn’t the fashion capital of the world, and never will be. IMHO what is important is that it develops unique fashion – - more reminiscent, say, of the city’s combined sewer system than “what we used to wear at Prep.”
Then again, I ain’t no fashion plate.
You just got mentioned & linked in the Reliable Source Gossip chat…Congrats!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2007/06/25/DI2007062501040.html
Georgia,
Thank you so much for pointing that out! I feel really flattered that Posties are reading. Bummed that I missed the chat.
My first question is…”What is fashion?” I think there’s a clear distinction between fashion and style. Discussing fashion is rather dippy, in my opinion, but hey I’m a scientist. That said, creative dress is a great expression of character, but within context. There are ways to present yourself without seeming overdone, as is my opinion of many in New York or Los Angeles.
That said, DC is pretty staid and not very open-minded. Smaller southern towns are more expressive and stylish than this city is, and that’s saying a lot about the types of people that settle here. Then again, maybe your blog is too focused on specific areas.