This was great! I'm geeking because I do get the pressure/frustration/cringe over writing - it's why I'm so exhausted with yelling on the internet (why isn't everyone immediately enamoured with me vs I also enjoy picking stuff apart so it makes sense other people would too). But back to personal style. I've been thinking about the continuous push to make whatever flavour of the month actress, model or single a 'Style Icon' which often leads to angry hoards on Twitter explaining they're not stylish but just skinny/rich/popular/following basic trends etc. And that really speaks to what you've said about how we're being pushed the style supremacy primarily to buy more stuff and work ourselves into distress to consume more and set ourselves apart. Like, I'm really into people lately who very loudly profess they have no sense of style, they have no dress sense. There's something heartwarming about accepting that maybe you don't have it, that clothing just serves a function for you, that literally nothing will happen if you're still wearing skinny jeans and gingham blouses. Lmao, sorry for this long ass comment. But loved this piece, I'm going to be thinking about it for a while.
Ahh Khensani! You smarty pants! You read me for filth with the "why isn't everyone immediately enamoured with me" lmao. But yeah, I've also found the nitpicking around who is and who isn't a "style star" ridiculous and typical of the snootiness people who love fashion feel they need to have. And it's very distressing, like you said, for people who don't think they have a signature style because they end up leaning a lot on fast fashion, or putting themselves under pressure to establish an socially intelligible vibe/era. Like ngl, I've long accepted my vain ass is never gonna see clothes are purely functional lol. But I can, at the very least, try to get rid of these elitist, mystical ideas of style. I didn't say as much in the piece, but I think we also downplay how much class and access play a role in determining whether you're treated as someone with style and taste. It's not just a question of it being in your DNA (no disrespect to Iris lol). Anyway, thanks so much for engaging! Really enjoyed your comment.
This was great! I'm geeking because I do get the pressure/frustration/cringe over writing - it's why I'm so exhausted with yelling on the internet (why isn't everyone immediately enamoured with me vs I also enjoy picking stuff apart so it makes sense other people would too). But back to personal style. I've been thinking about the continuous push to make whatever flavour of the month actress, model or single a 'Style Icon' which often leads to angry hoards on Twitter explaining they're not stylish but just skinny/rich/popular/following basic trends etc. And that really speaks to what you've said about how we're being pushed the style supremacy primarily to buy more stuff and work ourselves into distress to consume more and set ourselves apart. Like, I'm really into people lately who very loudly profess they have no sense of style, they have no dress sense. There's something heartwarming about accepting that maybe you don't have it, that clothing just serves a function for you, that literally nothing will happen if you're still wearing skinny jeans and gingham blouses. Lmao, sorry for this long ass comment. But loved this piece, I'm going to be thinking about it for a while.
Ahh Khensani! You smarty pants! You read me for filth with the "why isn't everyone immediately enamoured with me" lmao. But yeah, I've also found the nitpicking around who is and who isn't a "style star" ridiculous and typical of the snootiness people who love fashion feel they need to have. And it's very distressing, like you said, for people who don't think they have a signature style because they end up leaning a lot on fast fashion, or putting themselves under pressure to establish an socially intelligible vibe/era. Like ngl, I've long accepted my vain ass is never gonna see clothes are purely functional lol. But I can, at the very least, try to get rid of these elitist, mystical ideas of style. I didn't say as much in the piece, but I think we also downplay how much class and access play a role in determining whether you're treated as someone with style and taste. It's not just a question of it being in your DNA (no disrespect to Iris lol). Anyway, thanks so much for engaging! Really enjoyed your comment.
Okay!! That’s it. Let me subscribe. Stunning piece Khanya
Again, thanks so much for reading B! Glad you liked it :)