Fashion and Literature
January 31st 2010 09:24
Slowly but surely, the topic of who imitates who will rear its debatable bosom into our collective conscience.
Back in my late teens, I found myself a wonderful imitation of life in the novel The Count of Monte Cristo. Although the style oozed by the count was more felt in certain pockets of New York throughout the nineties, there stood myself as a Sydneysider acting like I had found a supply of unlimited credit which was to be used for the greater good.
I dunno. It just felt right.
These days I find myself moreso affected by the likes of Julian Fellowes and his modern day account of life as a ruined aristocrat. Definitely something post-punk romantic to it, maybe even borgiouse bohemian. There's also a twist of techie in effect, thanks to the speedy lifestyle of convenience that comes with mp3, camera phone and computer technology available at my discretion. But that is beside the point.
In both Monte Cristo and Past Imperfect, I have been influenced by a time that was, well, before my time. I was not imitating anything I had noticed on the street on a regular basis, and obviously have not kept up with the knowledge of up and coming fashion trends.
On the surface it would seem that I am doing my own thing, but it would be closer to the fact to say that my fashion sense tends to be directly affected by whatever literature I am reading at the time. I have since found a common ground in which to stick with my sense of style without chopping and changing too much (as us hetero males like to do).
That common ground is 1930's New York stuff, such as F Scott Fitzgerald, Damon Runyon, and that guy that wrote Catcher in the Rye (google can wait). It could well be that my sense of style was as such all along, with Alexandre Dumas and Fellowes infiltrating and wreaking havoc as I flightedly flirted with what has been, at times, disaster.
As the tennis match between fashion, art and literature continue - with the prize being nothing but simple recognition and a possible boom in the cost there of - we can rest easy knowing that another thought provoking topic has been brought up that is of little consequence to the result incurred.
So might we say, thank you and good night
Back in my late teens, I found myself a wonderful imitation of life in the novel The Count of Monte Cristo. Although the style oozed by the count was more felt in certain pockets of New York throughout the nineties, there stood myself as a Sydneysider acting like I had found a supply of unlimited credit which was to be used for the greater good.
I dunno. It just felt right.
These days I find myself moreso affected by the likes of Julian Fellowes and his modern day account of life as a ruined aristocrat. Definitely something post-punk romantic to it, maybe even borgiouse bohemian. There's also a twist of techie in effect, thanks to the speedy lifestyle of convenience that comes with mp3, camera phone and computer technology available at my discretion. But that is beside the point.
In both Monte Cristo and Past Imperfect, I have been influenced by a time that was, well, before my time. I was not imitating anything I had noticed on the street on a regular basis, and obviously have not kept up with the knowledge of up and coming fashion trends.
On the surface it would seem that I am doing my own thing, but it would be closer to the fact to say that my fashion sense tends to be directly affected by whatever literature I am reading at the time. I have since found a common ground in which to stick with my sense of style without chopping and changing too much (as us hetero males like to do).
That common ground is 1930's New York stuff, such as F Scott Fitzgerald, Damon Runyon, and that guy that wrote Catcher in the Rye (google can wait). It could well be that my sense of style was as such all along, with Alexandre Dumas and Fellowes infiltrating and wreaking havoc as I flightedly flirted with what has been, at times, disaster.
As the tennis match between fashion, art and literature continue - with the prize being nothing but simple recognition and a possible boom in the cost there of - we can rest easy knowing that another thought provoking topic has been brought up that is of little consequence to the result incurred.
So might we say, thank you and good night
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