FASHION MEDIA: PAST AND PRESENT
“The moot of the question to be asked at this point is whether this unprecedented link was the result of the ideological revolution brought about by the Enlightenment or simply an attempt to elevate fashion above its existing status – hitherto relegated to the world of merchants, tailors and shopkeepers – to a subject worthy of intellectual pursuit.”
Here, I realised it is explaining the link between the concepts of fashion and taste. When the link first began it was a foreign nature to link the two, especially with French fashion magazines. Therefore, in the quote above they are debating whether the link was made because of gradual understanding of the fashion industry or if it was because fashion enthusiasts forced the connection to help the fashion industry rise above its previously unworthy reputation. Also mentioning that most people did not see fashion as something that deserved their interest.
In Adorned in Dreams: Fashion and Modernity, Elizabeth Wilson states that fashion has had to constantly justify itself as a subject of honest and serious pursuit. I agree, as someone studying fashion, that there are times where the fashion industry has to be explained as something needed in the world. She also continues to say that fashion writers other than her have to explain exactly why the fashion industry is such an vital pathway to express people and culture; “..adornment of the body pre-dates all other known forms of decoration..” Wilson is trying to address that fashion has been wrongly assigned a category in people’s minds where it is not to be taken seriously.
Personally, studying fashion is extremely important to how people are portrayed whether it is their mood, status, personality or ethnic background. Although fashion is rising as an acceptable career path and subject, there are still debates and decisions that are making it hard for creative subjects (not just fashion) to be studied well and taught well.
It is clear when on the article Is Fashion education selling a false dream? they talk about students that have either been satisfied or dissatisfied with their studies. The survey showed that everything within the courses they were on were good, they had sufficient materials and support but none after they left. The students did not have the training or experience or even the help they needed to get started on their career in the fashion industry.
This would definitely be a problem for me since I have chosen this career path and I need to be able to get a job and understand my place within the industry. Yet, if there is an issue with the follow up of fashion education then it will threaten my career.
Monique Olowu
References:
Bartlett, Djurdja; Cole, Shaun; Rocamora, Agnes; 2013, Fashion Media: Past and Present, London, Bloomsbury
Wilson, Elizabeth, 1985, Adorned in Dreams: Fashion and Modernity, 2003 edition, London, Virago Press Ltd
Amed, Imran; Mellery-Pratt Robin; 2017, Business of Fashion, https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/education/global-fashion-school-rankings-2015, September 28 2017