I Die (for fashion)

Taking Rachel Zoe's expression "I Die" literally, US Harper's Bazaar have raised the bar with this clever little spread featuring the celebrity stylist for their latest issue. Zoe, snapped by Douglas Friedman, is captured alongside some of America's top designers, going in for the kill. Literally. So many metaphors and innuendos lurking under the surface of this shoot. It reminds me of the start of The September Issue where Anna Wintour sums up the misconceptions associated with the fashion industry and those who work within it brilliantly: "There is something about fashion that can make people very nervous." With that closing statement she levels a steely, unperturbed stare straight down the barrel of the camera, and we know. Interview over. 

Some may say Anna Wintour intimidates people, but I beg to differ. Fashion intimidates people. For some, The September Issue was nothing more than a sneak peek into the exclusivity and luxury that normally lies just beyond the realms of reality. However, as a documentary into the inner workings of the fashion industry, I think it was much, much more than just a 'glimpse'. If you watch it multiple times (ahem, guilty) what first appears to be a standoffish, haughty or higher-than-thou attitude is simply an uncanny ability to edit her thoughts with just the right amount of candour to convey what needs to be said, and nothing more. "Just because you like to put on a beautiful Carolina Herrera dress... or a pair of J Brand blue jeans instead of something basic from K-Mart... doesn't mean that you're a dumb person." 

Some people in this world think (and how wrongly so) that by caring about how you look and the way you dress, means that you care less about what is deemed to be of real importance, such as economics, or politics, or having a "real" career. So when people ask me what it is I love about fashion, what I can never seem to explain to them in the way I would like, in between my mutterings of Anna Wintour (who?) and their confused stares, is the intelligence of it all. The sheer wit and intellect that is required to conjure up such imagery and innuendo makes it one of the most challenging and (I'm willing to bet) rewarding industries to be involved in. The bravery and courage it takes to divert from the more traditional and socially acceptable career paths to pursue something you truly love is nothing short of inspirational. And I'm not just talking about fashion. Musicians, artists, sculptors, couturiers, writers, glass-blowers... for all those who have made a name for themselves under these titles, there are a million more busting their guts for nothing more than the love of the game. Determination to forge a way for oneself despite the throwbacks, despite the challenges and ridicule and years of giving it your all, is a world away from dumb. Working tirelessly to forge a way for yourself so that maybe one day, you can wake up and think 'I love my job' is possibly one of the smartest things I can think of. All this from a fashion editorial that reminded me of a documentary I once watched. It really is true what they say; a picture says a thousand words.  

via: TFS