Fashion is fickle. Every week, it seems, the magazines at the supermarket are screaming out some new hot look (usually a look that only works for runway models). Whether it’s neon orange, bold stripes, or weird, puffy sleeves, something new is always “in.”
My closet has a whole section relegated to seasonal, fashionable fashion trends. I recently donated some of my 90’s stuff: I got fed up with my old jester hat and jnco jeans mocking me every laundry day. But plenty remains: fancy camouflage, ribbed sweaters, and an embarrassing variety of peasant tops. I desperately hope some crafty person can find them at a thrift store and transform them into socially acceptable articles of clothing with a few snips and stitches.
What I really want is a few timeless, classic pieces of clothing that will always look excellent. For the past few years, I’ve been threatening to reallocate all the money I spend on dozens of cheap, trendy things to one or two pieces of classic, beautiful clothing that will last a decade or more. Yeah, that hasn’t happened yet. Anyway, as I do with all life’s problems, I’m going to look in book for the answers.
What does classic, timeless literature say about classic, timeless fashion? Let’s see, shall we?
Five insights about fashion from Knickerbocker Classics:
Upon reflection, isn’t it surprising that there aren’t loads of fashion references in Jane Austen novels? With her focus on society, manners, propriety, and decorum, it seems as though strict judgments on fashion would penetrate the books. While many of her characters rejoice in new dresses or parasols or bonnets (think Lydia and Kitty in Pride and Prejudice), only one of her books,Northanger Abbey, has a truly fashion-conscious character. The lesson I take from Jane Austen: who cares what you wear as long as it’s clean and respectable? It’s how you behave and how you carry yourself that are the true measures of fashion.
Irene Adler, the red-headed diva and repeating character in Sherlock Holmes stories showed us that it’s rewarding to explore both your feminine and masculine sides in fashion. Irene dressed in her “walking clothes” (male drag) to go under cover from time to time to help Dr. Watson and Sherlock gather evidence.
Methinks the number one fashion reference in Shakespeare plays is very likely to “robes” although I have not done a literature analysis to prove it. Not only were robes the fashion of the time, but think about it: when people were on the stage, they could change very quickly and effect an entire new look, thus indicating a new day, or a new chapter by quickly changing robes backstage. Fashion lessons from Shakespeare translated to modern times: different cuts and styles of jackets and sweaters can change up your look quickly and effectively.
Little Women fashion makes me happy. In fact, I think I take more fashion cues from Amy, Jo, Meg, and Beth than with any other classic female characters (other than, maybe, Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda…). Here’s the thing: fashion to the March family wasn’t something to be purchased. It was something to be cultivated and created. Amy, for example, painted up her old boots instead of deciding to buy new ones. How crafty!
And finally, fashion lessons from Dracula. Black is slimming, and dressing cleanly in a modern style will do wonders to detract unwanted attention as you’re preying on human flesh.
@qgeekbooks
Books, Journals, Classics, Stationary & More 