I don't remember how the conversation started but around a big dinner table full of old and new friends the talk turned to careers. I imagine it was the usual progression of dinner party chat. One person is asked what they do and then new friends are asked to detail their terms of employment.
It was the usual mix of administrative roles, a few doctors and the token lawyer. When the "sharing" reached my side of the table one of my friends smirked and commented, "Emily plays the vital role in pointing out when one of us commits a fashion disaster." We all laughed. I laughed so hard I almost spilled red wine all over my new crisp white Ralph Lauren shirt dress. But then I said something that has stuck with me since the words left my lips. "Actually, guys, my job's just as important as any one of yours." You can only imagine the look on everyone's faces. Oh yes, they thought I was one of those fashionistas who believes fashion really is life or death. In fact, that couldn't be further from the truth.
"What's the one thing at this table that we all have in common?" Everyone looked around and shrugged their shoulders as if to say "we give up". My answer was simple and staring us all right in the face. "We're all wearing clothes! Tonight as we were all getting ready to come here for dinner each and every one of us had to pick something to wear. We all looked in the mirror, made minor adjustments or if you're like me you tried on fifteen outfits before settling for what we're wearing right now. In doing so we all participated in the game of fashion which I loosely translate to mean we all put on clothes according to how we'd like the world to perceive us. So you may not think what I do is important but each and every one of us has to wear clothes on a daily basis and there are thousands of men and women who work to put those clothes on your backs. Just like you need farmers to provide you with produce, doctors to monitor your health or bus drivers to get you to work... So to do you need all the people that work in the fashion industry to keep you clothed."
After I stepped down off my soapbox I was met with nodding heads. "True", "interesting", "nope, not buying it", were just some of the responses I received. Two weeks to the day since this party took place I'm still sticking to my guns.
I'm reminding by what the fictional character Miranda Priestly said in The Devil Wear's Prada:
"You think this has nothing to do with you. You go to your closet and you select... I don't know... that lumpy blue sweater, for instance because you're trying to tell the world that you take yourself too seriously to care about what you put on your back. But what you don't know is that that sweater is not just blue, it's not turquoise. It's not lapis. It's actually cerulean. And you're also blithely unaware of the fact that in 2002, Oscar de la Renta did a collection of cerulean gowns. And then I think it was Yves Saint Laurent... wasn't it who showed cerulean military jackets? I think we need a jacket here. And then cerulean quickly showed up in the collections of eight different designers. And then it, uh, filtered down through the department stores and then trickled on down into some tragic Casual Corner where you, no doubt, fished it out of some clearance bin. However, that blue represents millions of dollars and countless jobs and it's sort of comical how you think that you've made a choice that exempts you from the fashion industry when, in fact, you're wearing the sweater that was selected for you by the people in this room from a pile of stuff."
Honestly, nothing I say here can compare to that genius piece of writing! Truer and harsher words have never been spoken.
For those who spend time looking down upon the world of fashion it would be wise to look down at yourself and what you have on right now. Are you stepping out to work today wearing your Birthday suit or are you wearing an Armani suit or maybe J Brand Jeans with some Chuck Taylors and a white t-shirt from Hanes. Everything comes with a label whether it's L.L. Bean or Lagerfeld! Whatever you are wearing your tastes have been influenced by everything that you see around you. No man or woman, unless they've grown up on a remote island, has lived on earth without being swayed by their surroundings. This is true for whatever culture you know whether that be American, European, African or Asian. And in going out and buying, or in making clothing, you are participating in the great game of fashion.
So for those of you reading this that work in fashion or just plain love it, never let anyone tell you that this world is vacuous or unnecessary. Fashion is an essential for every human being walking this earth. Remember that being fashionable is being true to what makes you YOU! And tell all the naysayers to go naked if they have a problem with the fashion world. Then you can visit them on Tuesdays as they make their orange jumpsuit statement. And yes, even that is a fashion choice someone had to make at some point - to put prisoners in orange jumpsuits!