During the 2000s, TLC’s popular program What Not to Wear served as my primary source of fashion rules. The extremely popular makeover series, which ran from 2003 to 2013, was greatly influenced by its unflappably stylish and frank hosts, stylists Stacy London and Clinton Kelly.
Every episode featured a single participant, typically a lady, whose costume had been suggested by others in her life. She would have to surrender the contents of her wardrobe and her fashion sense to be enhanced by the all-knowing hosts after being ambushed (typically in front of a sizable crowd) and accepting to take part. Absolutely, finding out that almost everyone you care about believes that you need to “fix” your appearance was a surprise to receive a nomination for What Not to Wear.
It was an insane work of art. What Not to Wear’s evident entertainment value flourished over ten years of airing on the idea of formulaic programs with strict fashion guidelines. I couldn’t help but agree with London and Kelly as they gave out witty remarks on clothes and dictated what to buy in the sake of looking more “flattering.” My ability to create my own thoughts about outfits was being buried as I was intoxicated by the power of seeming to be a pseudo-stylist.
It should be mentioned that during this period, being skinny was largely what defined the fashion industry. Worst-dressed lists continued to be generally accepted, while body shaming continued unchecked in popular media. It appears that we’ve gone a long way by 2024. Even London and Kelly are getting back together for a new program that challenges the core values of the first series, appropriately named Wear Whatever The F You Want. However, the reality remains that many of the “rules” propagated by What Not to Wear continue to be firmly embedded in our perceptions of our bodies and thus, our wardrobes.
Fashion Rule 1: Clothes should fit your body type and be “flattering.”
The TikTok user @jackies.house gained popularity in December 2022 when he posted a video titled “stop only wearing flattering clothes.” The post started a trend of videos demonstrating how discovering one’s own style involves defying fashion rules. Although the word “flattering” is frequently used to support giving out fashion advice, it’s also seen as a barely disguised manner of suggesting that people with larger frames should prioritize seeming smaller.
Fashion Rule #2: There is an expiration date on clothing
Growing up, I believed that my clothes had an inherent clock; they had a limited lifespan in the fashion industry until they were distinctly unfashionable, or cheugy. Even though this way of thinking is unsustainable, it has long been accepted as the norm in many high-fashion settings. As an illustration, consider the fact that What Not to Wear frequently replaced whole wardrobes with brand-new pieces rather than teaching competitors how to dress the ones they already had.
Rule #3: Dress according to your gender and age
Episode 2 of Season 12 centers on Lizz, a mother whose clothes are labeled as either “overly sensual” or “frumpy.” Even while she ultimately appreciates her updated appearance, I can’t help but see the underlying message: women beyond a certain age only look nice if they deliberately accentuate their proportions without baring too much skin. The problem is that, as women age, there seem to be more stringent standards for what constitutes “right” and “wrong” attire. Black says these rules do nothing but feed fears. “How else could you manage a prosperous lady who finances herself, lives on her own terms, and owns her own home? You target the one thing—aging—that she is powerless to stop.
#4: Being “Weird” is undesirable
Some of the subjects of the episode had distinct personal styles that made them happy yet were regarded as unusual, while others were openly indifferent in fashion. However, this very quirkiness might hold the secret to discovering one’s own style.
These days, it’s cool to mix patterns, use color blocking, and embrace once-maligned shapeless silhouettes. An increasing trend is to embrace your inner child rather than pandering to the views (and eyes) of others, thanks to the viral success of the “weird girl aesthetic” and modern, quirky fashion icons like Emily Cooper. However, developing this mindset still requires effort. “I didn’t start developing a sense of personal style until I let go of the need to always be desirable,” says Simi, the inventor of TikTok.
Stiff styling regulations ultimately impose exclusionary boundaries on who is allowed and is not allowed to engage in the fashion industry. Though it was What Not to Wear that initially got me interested in clothing, it also unfortunately taught me to base my outfit choices on calculations rather than emotions. However, the makeover genre has outgrown both society and the show. Furthermore, I’ve discovered that it might be powerful to avoid attempting to fit in. That’s what I’m going to do in 2024.
Image: Google
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