Re-define your standards of beauty

I recently watched a video of a creator saying that “Issi Miyaki clothing is not flattering on women”.  There is a lot to dissect about Issey Miyake’s work and his design ethos. Not only did this creator miss that point, though, but she also failed to even pronounce his name properly. 

The idea of “flattering” clothing, for example, is treated as a matter of fact or a rule here. It is something I hear so often in the fitting room. The way we feel in our clothes and the way we relate to the space between our bodies and our clothes is so personal, though. It is subjective in both the physical/sensory space and the visual and artistic composition of silhouette, color, texture etc. If there are so many different ways to view and wear garments, how could it be true that there is only one way for a garment to be “flattering”? If we let someone else define this concept of clothing we become subject to the whims of fashion and its trends. I admire Japanese designers, especially, for their ability to question these ideas in their designs. 

I suppose that this is meant to be a reminder. When you see or hear art that disagrees with you at first, dig a little deeper. Understand why you don’t like it. Learn what the original intent of the design was. If the artist didn’t capture their intent in your eyes, maybe this is an opportunity for you to explore and express your ideas and maybe they will be received well. Maybe this is a reminder to not be a hater. To challenge yourself and re-define the standards that you may have unknowingly accepted as truth before analyzing them yourself.

P.s. Shout out to my friend Emily for helping edit this one.