Tag Archives: politics

Sartorial Classification as a Weapon of War

ONE afternoon earlier this month, David Tabbert, wearing Ray-Bans and glinting metal earrings, headed out on a shopping trip to one of his usual Brooklyn haunts: Islam Fashion Inc. on Atlantic Avenue. Though Mr. Tabbert, 28, personally prefers G-star denim … Continue reading

2 Comments

Filed under (AD)DRESSING GENDER & SEXUALITY, FASHION-INDUSTRIAL-STATE COMPLEX, FASHIONING RACE, FASHIONING THE HUMAN, STYLE POLICE & STYLE GURUS, THEORY TO THINK WITH

On The Politics of Vintage, Starting With a Series of Thoughtful Epigraphs Before I Begin My Own Ruminations on The Topic

The following paragraphs are excerpts, authored by others, which might offer us (a collective us) an initial entry point into weighing the politics of vintage. The first comes to us from Catherine and her blog Renegade Bean, from a post … Continue reading

1 Comment

Filed under FASHIONING RACE, VINTAGE POLITICS

PICTURING POLITICS: T-Shirt Imperatives

There is just so much wrong with American Apparel issuing a t-shirt imperative to “Free Iran.” I am powerfully reminded of Michel Foucault’s thesis that the discourse of freedom is constantly produced through the practice of security, and of Inderpal … Continue reading

Leave a Comment

Filed under OUR JUNK DRAWER

LINKAGE: Sartorial Politics, Political Follies

(Photo: Getty Images, 16 August 2009) The sartorial discourse around the Obamas continues to illuminate the treacherous claims shaping and disciplining “American” civic bodies. Over at the National Review, former US assistant attorney general Andy McCarthy disingenuously wonders, “I’ve noticed … Continue reading

Leave a Comment

Filed under FASHIONING RACE, LINKAGE

Picturing Protest: Iran in 1953, 1979, 2009

There is a really wonderful interview with Negar Mottahedeh with Goldbarg Bashi at Tehran Bureau reflecting upon the stunning photographs emerging from recent Iranian protests in a longer historical frame. (Thanks for the tip, Ken!) An associate professor of literature … Continue reading

Leave a Comment

Filed under HIJAB POLITICS, LINKAGE

EXHIBIT: Fashion & Politics

This is just straight lifted from the museum’s description: Fashion & PoliticsJuly 7, 2009 – November 7, 2009 The Museum at FIT presents Fashion & Politics, a chronological exploration of over 200 years of politics as expressed through fashion. The … Continue reading

Leave a Comment

Filed under LINKAGE

You Say You Want A Revolution (In a Loose Headscarf)

Because this is a fashion plus politics blog, I want to post some very brief thoughts about the protests rocking Iran after what some observers are calling a fraudulent election, reinstalling President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad against his main opposition, moderate reformer … Continue reading

1 Comment

Filed under HIJAB POLITICS

Another Look at Hillary Clinton’s Cleavage

During last night’s Visible Vote ’08 Presidential Forum hosted by Logo Network and sponsored by the Human Rights Campaign, there was no mention of clothes, cleavage, or coral jackets—for nearly an hour and a half. This may be a record … Continue reading

Leave a Comment

Filed under (AD)DRESSING GENDER & SEXUALITY, STYLE POLICE & STYLE GURUS

The Right to Bare Arms (for a fraction of the cost!)

One of the earliest memories I have of shopping is also one of the first memories I have in the United States. It is the one of me and my family strolling around the Arcade Shopping Center in Ojai, California, … Continue reading

Leave a Comment

Filed under DEMOCRATIZATION OF FASHION