THE
FASHION STATEMENT
Patriots Marvel at Fashion
The fashion of 2008 shall be dictated by a surge in patriotism.
Our star-spangled banner will
flash through the Olympic
Games in Beijing, leaving
behind silver and gold tracers
as proof of its passage. Violet
will appear in a most grueling race for the U.S.
presidency only surpassed by the box office
domination of Marvel Comics adaptations.
These noteworthy events impact our manner
of dress, so let us explore what our selection of
apparel reveals about our collective concerns.
What are the most common topics of
discussion at our dinner tables? We can all
agree that our most vulnerable economy and
a potential loss of our superpower status are
never far from the forefront of our minds. How,
though, does this affect the manner in which
we dress? Does guilt drive us to minimalism?
Do we cease to wear a lot of jewelry? Are we
averse to patterns? Quite the contrary, we are
Americans—we simply become bolder! Our
colors are brighter, patterns protrude, and our
jewelry is anything but dainty—it’s downright
demanding! The most crippling color of
crushed grapes is splattered throughout
the campaign trail this year to remind
us, as dear Caesar did in his per-
fectly proportioned purple
toga, that it is not yet
time to pass the Eagle.
There is no greater evidence of the
power of our unparalleled patriotism than
The Metropolitan Museum of Arts exhibit
entitled, “Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy.”
This exhibit, in tandem with the box-office title
waves prompted by Marvels’ Iron Man and
The Incredible Hulk II, encapsulate the aspirations and fears that are the foundation of our
nation and mark a revival of a sort of purity
and optimism synonymous only with youth.
Comics, conceived on Mount Olympus, have
traveled from (comic) strip to (silver) screen and
now have been projected on to the runway
and sidewalk.
Our fixation with the myths of the super
heroes is, of course, inextricably linked with
Greek and Roman mythology. All that we
are, and would ever aspire to be, can be found
in Athens, Rome or Gotham City. Greek by
origin, the Olympic games weave into our
behavior as well. Who are the Olympic athletes
if not exaggerations and articulations of the
physical form we all aspire to obtain? In es-
sence, they are superheroes. These
athletes are representations of
the ideals and customs of our
respective countries clad in the
colors and flags that are the
brand of our nature. Like our
elected officials, these athletes
are held to a different standard,
one that no mere mortal could
ever fly up to. Each character must
exercise flexibility and versatility in
his wardrobe. No matter how challenging the feat, we must never see
him sweat.
As the pressure mounts for a new world
order, so does our need for safety and identity.
We look to the Olympic athlete, the political
leader, and superhero for inspiration, and with
fashion as our vessel we are able to simulate
the power of our ideals and still safely return to
the confines of our homes.
How then do we incorporate a healthy
dose of superhero into our daily lives? We need
not wear a cape to the post office or scale a
wall. Let us instead wear the colors that grant
us confidence and engage in acts of random
kindness. Whether you are applauding a gold
medalist in Beijing or saluting a military hero
at the Destin Harbor, unleash the superhero
within you and never underestimate the power
of a leotard!
To find out which superheroes you embody, go to: www.thesuperheroquiz.com
My fashion picks for this season: Instead
of a leotard try a body suit; my favorite is by
Galliano. Instead of a cape, we have shoes tall
enough to let the villains know to get out of
the way. I have chosen two shoes by Giuseppe
Zanotti for this purpose.
Custo Barcelona boldly brings us Fashion
and Fantasy by revolutionizing the art of silk
screening and bringing the mythology of the
comic universe to the dress and T-Shirt.
Favorite Bag: Silver tote with Olympic
metal gold buckle by Valentino.
Full outfit: Pollini white linen dress to be
worn with red patent leather strappy heels
from Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti. Cobalt
Blue python Clutch by Carlos Falchi. All of the
above hero-wear can be found at Teena Haven.
