In Support of Fashion

I'm not much of a fashion-y type person. Labels don't interest me as much as quality craftsmanship does. I stick pretty close to the basics and get really excited about "wardrobe staples." I shop twice a year (after-Christmas sales and summer closeouts, mostly at J.Crew). And while I'm a self-proclaimed personal style nerd, capital "F" Fashion isn't even close to my thing. 

Yet, there are times when it's too much of a spectacle to write off: I still don't quite know what to make of the most recent fetishizing of religion on full display at this year's Met Gala, except that Jared Leto must have been bribing the organizers. 

Fashion often represents a certain kind of celebrity voyeurism mixed with a healthy dose of hullabaloo. But every once in a while, someone mounts a serious defense of fashion that gives me pause. Take this quote from the incredible Danai Gurira, taken from an article in the May issue of Harper's Bazaar:

““There’s something exciting about getting to engage with another person’s craftsmanship. By putting on their creation, you add yourself to its narrative. I don’t think any other art form provides this the way fashion does.””

It's been uttered many times before, this notion of fashion as wearable art, but rarely does someone put it as respectfully or eloquently as Danai does here. I guess we can add that to the long list of elegantly understated things she says, does, wears and generally represents. 

Happy Tuesday, friends! Do you ever think about fashion? If so, what are your opinions?