Dressing Against the Grain: Fashion as Separation

I have always both loved and envied people who make bold fashion choices.  You know who I'm talking about.  Those people who can create an outfit out of seemingly unrelated items, and who make things look amazing that you know would make you look like a circus freak.  Since I began this project I have been on the lookout for someone who pulls off alternative style with ease.  I found that person in SU Junior, Hannah Greenblatt.  This LA native says she shops mostly vintage and isn't afraid to mix and match patterns, colors, and fabrics.

"My personal sense of style definitely pushes the boundaries with current fashion trends," Hannah said.  "I'd like to think my style is unique, mostly a jumble of vintage pieces I picked up over the years."

In his book "Fashion as Communication" Malcom Barnard says "Every day we make decisions about the social status and role of the people we meet based on what they are wearing."

Barnard refers to this as social hieroglyphics which is "determining role/status based on clothing."  This concept refers to the way we assign people roles socially.  When one looks at Hannah, or anyone for that matter, they automatically make assumptions about a persons occupation, social status, class, etc. One would probably describe Hannah as alternative, listens to a certain type of music (probably moody indie folk rock), that she is edgy, maybe somewhat intimidating.  Silly as it sounds, when I showed some people this picture, those are the types of answers I received.

"People think I dress like this to fit into a certain group, that I'm a 'hipster' or whatever Hannah said.  "I dress like this because it appeals to me.  I don't like going with what everyone else is doing."

When Hannah said this, I immediately thought back to one of our first classes where we discussed Georg Simmel.  He says 2 key elements are needed for fashion to exist.  The first, is the need for union.  People dress to fit into a certain group, so as not to be looked at as an outcast and to stay in keeping with certain social norms.  The second is the need for isolation.  This is were unique style comes into play.  Hannah is clearly setting herself apart with her unique style choices and yet seems to belong to a certain subculture of people defined by others as "hipsters." Although this may not be her intention.

 It seems that no matter how unique or different, people will attempt to group or categorize people.  Also, as in this example, it seems that although people may be willing to explore fashion and explore their unique style, there will always be elements of social pressures influencing fashion choices.  Hannah does still fit in with social norms, although unique, her style is still considered to be "cool."

Whatever group she is in, her style is eclectic and enviable.  I'd like to take a few pointers.