There’s a new style reality show on BBC America--
Saturday, October 24, 2009
..and Ginia Bellafonte, in the NY Times article "Why Can't the English Teach Their Retailers How to be Chic" says British reality TV "is a broad territory about which few generalizations should be made, but sometimes it seems an awful lot as if Henry Higgins ought to receive producing credit."
"Mary Queen of Shops" follows the lead of the original "What Not to Wear" and "Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares" which imply "the masses require the genius of the giants..." ( and may I personally add the compulsory English accent?) "..to survive." The article further says that the new program "reinforces hierchies, justifying arrogance and the imperious condescention of the gifted toward the average. Here the Tell It Like It Is retail consultant named Mary Portas, with a razor thin mouth that never seems to shut and a severely angular haircut that says, "I look fabulous, and you look like a big, bulbous turnip."
Mary claims "What I don't know about shops isn't worth knowing."
What I personally found interesting is that she becomes embroiled in some philosophy that I've pondered myself. "Her fashion politics confound. On the one hand, she champions the democratization of design, the High Street stores that bring the look (if not the quality) of high-end clothing to regular working people"
I've called it trickle-down-style as demonstrated by J Crew, Ann Taylor and Banana Republic." On the other hand she thinks that Primark, one large chain, "is ruining England" with its homogenizing effects." I've felt that way about H&M--and I would add their sleaze effect.
So it seems Mary will try to become a retailing Pygmalion--media style! (and apparently "autocracy" is what audiences respond to or it wouldn't be the success model being duplicated ad infinitum)
All this will not necessarily solve our retail problems--after all --these shows are just about entertainment.
Hi Susan!
Yes --my point is that it’s merely thrown at you without real substance. The media, generally speaking is more concerned with the entertainment it provides. Therefore the public is treated to acerbic, combative “let them eat cake” drama.
“Fashion” is available, and it may be awful and inappropriate for too many. But true style--and certainly upscale, refined (elegant and cultured as defined in the dictionary) style is almost totally lost in our culture. It exists only in small enclaves. My goal is to actually reintroduce “refined” style--with individuality--to whomever wishes to listen and give it a go. Yes- I believe it begins with a classic core (described in every page of my books). And accessories are so important, as they help individualize and define your style.
True- many women over 50 do gain weight. But I believe if they tried their hardest--ate well and exercised-- they could maintain a relatively good weight as they aged. It takes “healthy vanity”. And it requires tons of self discipline.
But even if you are overweight--classic clothes can be found in every size. The “dowdy” look comes about when women choose clothes that are not classic and not in the current cut/twist. The clothes may be intrinsically dull in their style or conversely (just as bad) over-embellished. The clothes are poor in fabric and fit. The ladies who buy them shop at the wrong stores and don’t realize it. Unfortunately, many of them are very pleased with their appearance.
Those women haven’t studied what is truly a classic.
On the cover of “Steal This Style” I show Ife, a size 18-20 woman. She’s wearing a classically based white and black outfit. A simple well fitted white shirt, combined with well fitting black slacks and a black cardigan thrown over her shoulders. So simple!!!
No one would accuse her of remotely looking dowdy. There are quite a few women- in my books way over sz 16. Each one, I believe demonstrates that they can have great and refined style--without ever looking dowdy. Happily- It has nothing to do with size or age.
Best-
Sherrie
Sherrie Mathieson on October 25, 2009 at 6:33 MST
How do you keep your own style when “fashion” is being thrown at you in every media? And “fashion” is now affordable for most people so we all look the same?
I love your advice, Sherrie. Don’t you recommend to stick to the classics but use accessories to spice up the wardrobe?
The real question is--how do over-50 (with more figure difficulties) stay in fashion without looking dowdy?
Susan LEVINE on October 25, 2009 at 11:33 MST