Fashion snobbery and elitism
The side of fashion that I find distasteful
Is it weird that the things I dislike are the things I am also passionate about? Such negative emotion, but I guess there is something that everyone finds unpleasant in things they adore.
Is fashion elitist? I will say yes because the bedrock of fashion is built upon the idea that people want to stand out from the norm. It drove designers like Elsa Schiaparelli and Yves Saint Laurent to the next level and motivated consumers to purchase. But I will also say no because, in today’s world, the idea of elitism has taken a different form; it isn’t about looking rich or distinguishing yourself from an income class. This idea isn’t as prominent anymore.
Elitism is now presented through one’s condescension towards other’s fashion choices, instead of the price tag attached
It exists in every type of fashion community: streetwear, archive fashion, cottage-core, post-avant-garde, and many more. The sense of identity some people have for their respective fashion genres can be so strong that they start to wear their choices like medallions. And sometimes even look down on other people’s choices that they deem not as sophisticated as theirs.
Of course, everyone has reasons they are so attached to a particular aesthetic, and whenever someone speaks negatively of it, they will fight them with unity and valor. But some think that attaining a certain taste of fashion represents their unique and ‘better than the rest’ personality. This is where the snobbery begins.
Some fashion genres indeed require a specific type of personality to enjoy and understand. To make a connection with Balenciaga’s or Dior’s products is way easier than with Boris Bidjan Saberi or Ziggy Chen. No one is superior to the other, but somehow, there exists a subtle condescension towards those who enjoy ‘easier’ fashion.
I guess this phenomenon is even more apparent in the realm of ‘this brand is underground. Not many people know it.’ Anti-mainstream with a hint of gatekeeping.
No one wears this, so I am better than them.
~random elitist
Even though fashion elitism is something that I look down on, is it hurting the industry? I think that it is counterintuitively pushing it forward. People’s constant need to stand out motivates them to look for previously overshadowed brands and explore aesthetics beyond what conglomerates force the public to wear.
Of course, not everyone is condescending, it’s just an interesting shift of elitism’s essence that I think is taking place. What do you think?