Stella McCartney One of the rather marvellous things about opinions is that they are individual and we can choose whether or not to share them. I have a lot of opinions and I choose to air them here alongside the views of others whose opinions tend to coincide with mine. One of the first rules Squeamish Louise and I came up with when creating Squeamish Bikini was a no snark rule. Which I tweaked when it looked like I was going to fall at the first hurdle and changed to a no snarking on the vulnerable rule. No snarking also covers a no sweeping statements rule. Now, fashion designer Stella McCartney does not have to adhere to SB house rules (it would be nice if everybody did though) but making statements regarding strong women and their lack of attractiveness seems a rather unwise snarky sweeping statement.
Now, the fashion world is of course awash with sweeping statements. By constantly employing a certain type of model for the catwalk, magazines and advertising campaigns fashion is making a sweeping statement about how a woman should look. By charging what they do for the clothes they are making a sweeping statement about what you should spend, or be able to spend on clothing.
In turn I often hear people make sweeping statements about the fashion industry. That it is shallow. That if you are in fashion you must be stick thin and if you like or work in fashion you're silly.
Of course the trick is that neither side has to listen to the other. They can turn away from the other and mentally mutually masturbate amongst the converted. But then fashion likes the other side to buy their wares and dammit if the other side doesn't like to look pretty.
In turn I often hear people make sweeping statements about the fashion industry. That it is shallow. That if you are in fashion you must be stick thin and if you like or work in fashion you're silly.
Of course the trick is that neither side has to listen to the other. They can turn away from the other and mentally mutually masturbate amongst the converted. But then fashion likes the other side to buy their wares and dammit if the other side doesn't like to look pretty.
| Which is why when a name in the fashion industry makes a claim regarding attractiveness people pay attention. McCartney found fame as the creative director of fashion label Chloe. | it drags us back, in our soft, sexily feminine Stella McCartney dresses, somewhat to the Victorian era |
McCartney found notoriety before this, by getting Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss and Yasmin Le Bon to model her graduation collection in 1995 for Central St Martins School of art and design, all to a song written and performed by her father Paul.
This woman has credentials in music and fashion. In 2013 she placed in BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour's 100 Most Powerful Women list. It's important to those further down the chain what she believes is attractive.
To say that strong women were abrasive and "not terribly attractive" at Paris Fashion Week is unfortunate because it drags us back, in our soft, sexily feminine Stella McCartney dresses, somewhat to the Victorian era in which appearing to be too delicate for something like a strong opinion.
Describing her latest collection McCartney said she wanted her clothes to celebrate the "fragility" of women and focus on their softer side. That's fine. Fragility and softness can be attractive and can be a side of strong women. That's what we should celebrate, that women can embrace strength and softness. Not placing one above the other.
Squeamish Kate
This woman has credentials in music and fashion. In 2013 she placed in BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour's 100 Most Powerful Women list. It's important to those further down the chain what she believes is attractive.
To say that strong women were abrasive and "not terribly attractive" at Paris Fashion Week is unfortunate because it drags us back, in our soft, sexily feminine Stella McCartney dresses, somewhat to the Victorian era in which appearing to be too delicate for something like a strong opinion.
Describing her latest collection McCartney said she wanted her clothes to celebrate the "fragility" of women and focus on their softer side. That's fine. Fragility and softness can be attractive and can be a side of strong women. That's what we should celebrate, that women can embrace strength and softness. Not placing one above the other.
Squeamish Kate
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