TheBlueprint
Designing A Line Of Thinking
"Life isn’t perfect, but your outfit can be.” Universal mantra for teenagers and politicians alike.
- Tejaswini
Human beings are constantly evolving creatures, and they owe fashion for being the only constant. It changes along with us, molds itself to every new development and has been passed on through millennia as a gift to endow future generations. In many ways, this is our kind’s biggest largesse since fashion is an instant social language. Fast paced lifestyles lead to a world of few words and what is left unsaid is expressed through clothes and first impressions. When non- confirmative, it is liberation and revolution. When placed on power figures, it is marketing, endorsement, mockery and facades.
When historical symbol of opulent dressing and lavish splurging French queen Marie Antoinette was painted wearing a robe de gaulle (simplistic and airy white cotton dress), she unwittingly ignited one of the most horrific chain of events. Though first faced with backlash since cotton was produced by the English colony of India, and the scandalous gown making the queen seem immodest, the painting quickly gained popularity and became the newest trend. Colonized Indian farmers could not supply the escalating European demand for cotton, thus began the African slave trade by the French plantation owners.
The former first lady of America, Melania Trump, wore a parka jacket with the words “I really don’t care, do you?” emblazoned on the back. She was on her way to visit a Texas facility housing immigrant children. She was quoted justifying this act with it being ‘just a jacket’, which is very understandable given the circumstances between Mexico and America.
These brief instances weave a tale of how politics has influenced the public through fashion statements throughout history. Every stitch of clothing covering a person in power has a greater message and purpose. They balance and represent both affluent designers and local brands. Whether it is Princess Diana’s black ‘revenge dress’ and bold ball gowns or Rajasthani Maharani Gayatri Devi’s chiffon sarees and equestrian slacks, there is a quiet rebellion against traditional royal conservativeness. Not being overt in their messaging caused them to be considered style icons upon speculation in hindsight. Just like these two women, celebrities can wield the watchful public eye to their advantage. They bought royal fashion to the masses and faced backlash for making the monarchy seem approachable. Mere pedestrians could live a thousand times over and still be unfit for such celebrity splendor.
Wearing black alludes to mysterious, elegant and powerful personas. Those dressed as such receive a certain amount of respect in daily life. It can be paired with garments of all colors and the options available while shopping are endless. It is also closely linked to protest clothing (the berets of Black Panther Party), poverty (worn by servants), funeral clothing, mourning periods as well as racism.
Politicians are required to be careful, precise, deliberate and purposeful in what they wear. It is an absolute necessity to be appropriately suited for the venue and event, along with promoting brands and textiles. In Indira and Sonia Gandhi’s well draped, minimalistic, painstakingly draped handloom sarees is both visible respect for Gandhian Khadi and ability to pulsate familiarity with the Indian population. Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was a unique bland of elegance and grace in her satin and silk suits, sarees and headscarves. Barack Obama’s well-tailored suits and crisp shirts both during public speeches and meetings give him an air of both respectable and relatable.
Seemingly glamour-less, Jayalalitha masterfully concealed her jaw dropping collection of shoes and sarees for a considerable amount of time. Governing a nation where the majority of people do not have clothing to keep them warm during cold nights is a very just excuse for such leaders to deck themselves in finery and glamour while the poor are left with rags.
Prime Minister has an entire hashtag dedicated to his ensembles. #ModiKurta honors how his garb is always up to the occasion and a prime example of both demure and noticeable. Even when abroad, his tasteful Indian clothing pushes the Make In India campaign forward. The Nehru jackets, saffron scarves, pashmina shawls, linen- and- khadi kurtas are a nod to our beautiful culture. Forever making headlines not just for his political prowess but social image as well, our stylish leader has made the Guiness Book of World records for donning the most expensive suit to ever be auctioned. Originally created for 10 lakhs, a diamond baron purchased it for 4.3 crore. Other males resembling the likes of Shashi Tharoor, Sachin Pilot and Omar Abdullah have become style icons with their sophisticated garments.
Couture and dressmaking are the backbones of all the sands of time have witnessed. To a watchful eye they are training for what a person brings to the table by their individuality and ideas. Some argue that this is a shallow basis for judgment, but it’s apparent how clothes have the power to evince competence and influence masses. But it is not the apparel that makes the people, it is the souls that fill them out. It is the knowledge of building an image this way that puts forth a statement and goes down in hearts. The policy of first impressions is a difficult one to navigate, and our representatives are unflinchingly capable of glamourizing their deprivation struck domains. With empowering traditions, there comes glossed corruption and stowed away ethics. Politics and fashion are forever stuck in a bittersweet seesaw. With their close knit relationship comes opportunity for those promoting it to misuse it alongside.