The Sunday News
Let’s Get Stylish
IT’S pretty obvious that today’s fashion trends will be outdated by the time the sun rises tomorrow, thanks to innovative and creative fashion designers.
It’s not tomorrow in the practical sense of the word but all I am saying is that the changes have been pretty fast.
These designs, however, creative as they are, may be regarded as a catalyst that fuels sexually based violence, on women and in rare cases even men.
There are a lot of changes in the way people dress, as globalisation takes root. As always, fashion trends are inspired and influenced by celebrities on TV and on magazines and that is indeed a fact!
“Modern” fashion, as I would like to refer to it, has a proactive voice because of the many resources available.
There are magazines, TVs, billboards, brochures, you name it and all these assist us in keeping ourselves up to date with the ever-changing trends and accessories.
There are texts on different fashion topics that give us in-depth knowledge on the latest trends from all corners of the world. They even offer suggestions on how to jazz up one’s wardrobe with the simplest and cheapest accessories. This is both good and bad.
However, have you ever spared the time to think of what exactly inspires the change in fashion?
Some people, “junkies” and members of certain groups to be precise are for the notion that fashion has taken its toll and people should walk around naked. Total madness!!
I would like to believe that our different traditional attire inspires today’s fashion. Think about it, mini-skirts — the short animal hides women used to wear. Jewelry evolved from the beaded bangles and necklaces our ancestors used to “flaunt”. It is just a matter of being creative.
With that thought of mini skirts in mind, women on the other hand will forever be on the receiving, offensive or on the defensive mode concerning their dress code.
Some studies have attributed to the high number of rape cases to the way women dress. The fashionable hipsters, mini-skirts, bum-shorts and low-cut jeans, you name them — are the in thing in terms of ladies fashion these days. Some men perceive this as un-African.
Despite the fact that women long ago wore clothes made from animal hides and reeds, it was rare to hear of rape cases. Maybe it was just not documented, I stand to be enlightened or corrected. Its sad to note how some men have become perverted and have the guts to rape little girls in diapers! It’s a sickening thought to.
I know most ladies can tell you a very gory and narrative story about their one time nightmare, “The walk through hell”, Egodini. If you walk down town or to Egodini spotting a “trendy” mini dress/skirt you will definitely have a horrifying story to tell your pals and if you get the chance your grand kids.
“The whistles, touching, fondling, piercing eyes and in some cases ladies have had their skirts ripped off!”
I guess the idea by the Government to want to impose a dress code is a response to the anxieties that today, women will wear spaghetti straps, skimpy dresses and mini skirts to any occasion.
This if you ask me wouldn’t have done any good but it was a noble idea, as it would reduce the amount of “fashion fueled abuse”.
What exactly is it that prompts varied groups of different political and religious persuasions, arguing often-opposing view points, to legislate so stringently on clothing? Are the questions being debated so fiercely about clothing and accessories, or are they a smokescreen for something else?
If so, what is this something else?
It seems rather incredulous and contradictory that at a time when global fashion trends are successfully penetrating the world, we should simultaneously be discussing dress codes.
The increasing visibility of global fashion (on catwalks, advertising, restaurants and on the streets) and the perceived lack of “morality” that goes with it, creates no little anxiety in the minds of various self-appointed protectors of “culture”.
Women’s clothing: its length, width, cut and even colour are all debated in the blame game of sexual politics.
In the wake of rape cases people have found it easier and fit to blame women’s clothing for sexual harassment, admonishing women that these are bad times and they needed to guard their virtue.
I was discussing this topic with some friends and they told me that women wear short dresses for different reasons: the weather or simply just to seek attention.
And I told them the attention they would only get was being raped or viewed as sex objects. They may appear stunning but it also has a lot of repercussions.
It is now a thing of the past to nostalgically recall the “good old days” when girls were not viewed as sex objects.
I’ll anxiously wait to get your opinion on this topic.
Let’s talk, what are your views on the subject? Get in touch with me via sms or whatsapp only on 0772337433. You can also link up with me via e mail — [email protected]
