Like Vivienne Westwood once said “fashion is a political statement, and I believe in it”.
Fashion frequently reflects political ideologies and social movements, whether on the runway, the red carpet, or even in our daily lives. From the clothes we choose to wear to the pin on the jacket, we define our opinions and our view on certain debates.
Here are 6 ways fashion is used, being more than just random choices of clothes or accessories:
Fashion as protest
Hollywood actresses wore black to the 2018 Golden Globe Awards to protest sexual harassment in Hollywood and also to raise awareness for Time's Up, a initiative fighting sexual misconduct.
NBA players like Kobe Bryant and LeBron James protested the decision not to indict the NYPD officer who killed Eric Garner in 2014 by wearing shirts displaying Garner’s final words: “I Can’t Breathe”.
Fashion and national identity
Fashion can mirror the culture and tradition of a nation, allowing people to express their identity with creativity and pride on a global stage.
Fashion and revolution
Fashion has long been intertwined with revolutions, as clothing frequently serves as a potent means of expressing rebellion and questioning power.
A good example of this is the red pins celebrities wore at the 2024 Oscars, to support Artists4Ceasefire, which calls for the release of all hostages in Gaza.
Fashion and power
Clothing reflects status, conveys political messages, and asserts authority.
In the movie, Marie Antoinette, the costumes represent the sovereignty of the court, separating the monarchy from the plebs.
Political statements through fashion
Bruna Marquezine and her red lipstick that gave a big hint about her vote in the last presidential elections in Brazil.
Politicians and their clothing choices
Political leaders use fashion as a way to shape their image to the public opinion. The clothes, accessories and colors chosen can conceal messages reflecting their ideals while also projecting power, authority, simplicity, humility...
An example of this is when the former president of Brazil wore a red blouse when she left office due to an impeachment. Seven years later, she wore the same red blouse to celebrate the victory of her political ally in the last presidential election in Brazil.
Another example is the Converse All Star sneakers that Kamala Harris wears, projecting power but also simplicity, humility, and making her more relatable.
Thank you for reading!!!! this is my first real article, so i’ll try my best to improve in future posts! If you'd like, please leave a comment — I'd love to know your thoughts on the post. See you soon!!!
Xo, Maria <3