Fashion Tips

I love clothes. For me, clothing is a form of self-expression just like paint on a canvas is a form of expression for an artist. So, over the years I’ve been known to scour the pages of fashion magazines for ideas. At times I buy the magazines in the store, other times I subscribe to them for a year or a lot more. Typically times, when I flip by way of the pages, I get inspiration to combine colors, textures or styles in a way I hadn’t thought of in the past.

I’ve identified for years that fashion magazines are filled with unrealistic, laptop or computer-enhanced images. I know that a lot of models have eating disorders and drug problems and I know that a lot of young women aspire to look like models and therefore turn into victims of eating disorders, compulsive dieting, body dissatisfaction, drug use, smoking and much more. I know because I was one of those girls.

But I figured considering that I “know better” now, since I’m intelligent enough to see beneath the surface, that there’s no harm in looking at the magazine for fashion suggestions. It was only this past week, following the mailperson delivered a 500 page copy of 1 of my favorite fashion magazines that it all began to hit me. I sat at the table eating cereal and flipping via the pages one at a time.

I oogled a purse and a pair of shoes. I saw photos of ,000 dollar watches. Page right after page was permeated with items that would break my bank if I were to purchase them. I realized that I was literally paying income out of my pocket to be advertised to. I was paying for a 500 page manual which might as properly have been titled: 500 pages of points you will by no means be, do or have.

I realized I was paying to look at and read lies. Even although I “know better” on a conscious level, there was still a small girl part of me that wanted “that purse”, “those shoes” and “that watch,” even if they had been all incredibly overpriced and certain to wreak havoc on my financial future and my self-esteem.

On this certain day, seeking at the fashion magazine wasn’t enjoyable, it was infuriating. I suppose this fury has been working it is way out over the past few months. There was the time when I saw the picture of Madonna in a Versace ad and it hit me: she doesn’t have a wrinkle or a smile line or crow’s feet. Not one sign of becoming a mother of two, over 40 and a woman with an incredibly demanding career that spanned numerous decades. I thought to myself, “that’s impossible.” It wasn’t a jealous or envious thought, I meant it really literally. It is impossible. Computer enhancement and heavy duty make-up is the only logical explanation for the flawless face I saw.

I decided to put my emotions and judgments in check and get objective about what I saw. I performed an unofficial research project and scanned the pages of this 500 page magazine to get an accurate account of what I had been absorbing mindlessly month right after month and year soon after year. Here’s what I learned: of the 500 pages, 300 were full-page ads. 172 pages had been ads that pretended to be fashion advice, party suggestions and editorial content. Let’s get actual, when the fashion guidance consists of the name, phone number and site of the store and the price of the item, it genuinely is an ad. About 30 pages of the magazine had been not technically ads but they had been things like: “This star likes this” or, “This star does that.” Three of the pages were public service ads (I believe this is a requirement). So, there you have it, my 500 page contained 472 ads and approximately 30 pages of “content.” And I’m the sucker who sent the check in to cover the yearly subscription fee.

Now soon after this informal analysis project, I was beginning to get a little steamed up. Then, my friend Cindy e-mails me a link to the Dove internet site (campaignforrealbeauty.com) I go there and watch a 30-second video that shows a sped up version of all that goes into your typical fashion photo shoot. The 30-second video clip encapsulates the hours of time spent on hair, make-up, lighting, expert photography methods and personal computer enhancement that takes place just before an ad is published or broadcast. When I say the magazine ads are unrealistic and unattainable, I mean it. Due to the fact not even the model looks like the model!

So, I’ve created a decision. I am boycotting all fashion magazines. I will by no means buy another one again. I will not spend my cash on lies and images that lead to self-hatred, deadly behaviors and oppression for ladies. I know that funds is power and I refuse to spend my funds on harmful lies that destroy the lives of many girls.

I know that my few dollars will not be a large loss to the mega-rich publishing industry but I think it is critical for all ladies to understand that in a very actual way we do not have to buy the hype. I mean that in two methods. We do not have to acquire the magazines with our funds and we do not have to acquire the lies that reside inside their pages. We can also choose to support designers and manufacturers that promote positive images for ladies. We can pick to withhold our dollars from companies that exploit ladies whether or not it’s the model or the sweat shop worker that sews the clothing.

If a full boycott of fashion magazines is not for you, you always have the power to write advertisers when you see images that are harmful or ridiculous. These letters do make a distinction.

Now, as far as my fashion inspiration, I decided that if my clothes really are to be a form of self-expression then I will choose for myself what textures, colors and styles I want to combine. I’m a grown woman living in a totally free country. I do not will need a magazine to tell me how I need to dress.