TRENDS________________________________________________________________________
YOU MATTER!
By Razeena Docrat
Enchanting the masses, both young and old, with its
stereotypical, unrealistic, and standard ideas of beauty, the
fashion Industry has for a significant period detrimentally
affected the wellbeing of women. Models and high fashion brand
ambassadors were notorious for their smaller waists, larger busts,
skinny legs and flawless skin. Overly touched up photography
flooded magazines, newspapers and billboards! Younger girls
were given plastic role models void of brain and heart (Sorry, but
not sorry Barbie).
T he standard idea of beauty evolved through the
years. Each decade driving a new ideology and vision
formed by predominantly male designers in a rapid
paced, ever changing, style society! Models
themselves, have admitted to the hardships they have
endured to survive the industry. The fashion industry
continued to grow exponentially and with that, the
increasing desire of the public to resemble the pin ups
depicted. The woman looking back from our mirror
would never be good enough. Who she was, what she
was capable of, what she achieved, could not be seen
in her plain reflection. She could not compete or
even compare to the faces surrounding her. As rapidly
as the fashion industry grew, so did technology and
social media platforms. These platforms opened
doors for normal, average women, to share their
minds, hopes and dreams. Many of these women are
self-made Influencers and their social impact has
surpassed both magazines and billboards. Today
major fashion brands prefer to work with bloggers
and influencers that are of different shapes, sizes and
ethnicities. Individuality is embraced and celebrated.
Curvaceous, larger women are now catered for from
lingerie to large shoe sizes, with even the more petite,
having particular fashion labels extending to them.
We now see freckles, teeth gaps and skin conditions
making a beauty statement, promoting self love across
media publications. The modest fashion industry has
grown across cultures and is a global phenomenon.
The focus of fashion has radically changed from
changing yourself to finding your unique and personal
style, celebrating your individuality and thus lending
itself to a more holistic wellbeing.
By breaking down fashion stereotypes and
embracing individualism, flaws included,
fashion has had a more positive impact on
society as a whole.
Retail therapy is a reality. Statistics prove,
majority of women feel happier after buying
items they love. A shopping splurge may
inspire a surge of endorphins and with malls
now catering for the individual, it’s very
likely, a trip to the mall, seldom leaves one
empty handed and broken hearted. To
many, fashion is a mood elevator. The
transformational quality of clothing is
undeniable, from killer heels, power suits to
wiggle dresses. You can literally step into
how you wish to feel that day. Some believe
fashion has rules. The only rule to follow
through is WEAR WHAT MAKES YOU
HAPPY!
Edited by Waseema Abdool Kader