Politics In Fashion
As most fashion lovers are aware, Vogue is a magazine that is iconic for the outgoing styles and clothing ideas that grace its pages. They produce a monthly magazine and feature many topics other than fashion, such as beauty, culture, living, and runway. Vogue was described by The New York Times as "the world's most influential fashion magazine." The publication claims to reach 11 million readers in the US and 12.5 million internationally.
I recently subscribed to Vogue, wanting to keep up with fashion trends and maybe learn some new beauty tricks. What I did not realize I was signing up for, however, was the blatant political opinions of the Vogue editors. I assumed there would be some political talk. I also assumed it would be left-leaning, but I was not prepared for the amount of political vitriol that I encountered.
When my first issue came in the mail I was brimming with excitement. The front page had Lady Gaga on it, boasting articles about, “Dressing For the Real World” and ‘A Star Reborn” for her new movie. Those seemed like normal fashion magazine topics, however, the other title frankly shocked me: “Stormy Daniels, Register-In-Chief.” I guess I shouldn’t have been that surprised, but I couldn’t see what that had to do with fashion at all. Apparently, that’s what other readers thought as well.
In addition to reading Vogue magazine I also follow them on Instagram, or used to. In scrolling through my feed I saw their post of Christine Blasey Ford. The caption read, “We believe Dr. Christine Blasey Ford.” Of course, the first thing I did was click on to read the comments.
Many of them were people saying, “Thank you” and similar sentiments. But, there were also many that reflected my own opinion. Some said, “I don’t understand why a fashion magazine would make this statement ??” and, “We came here for fashion, not politics.”
Obviously, many people unfollowed their page, including myself.
The original purpose of Vogue was to “produce the most beautiful and tasteful magazine that had ever existed.” Are they still following that mantra?
The Ford issue aside, should fashion magazines and/or influencers take such bold stances on politics? Of course, we all have the freedom to express our ideas and beliefs, but as a magazine with a younger, more impressionable audience, is it really ethical to present such brazen political views without any countering points?
As a Broadcast major, I have listened to many a lecture on free speech and I wholeheartedly believe in the right to express your views, as offensive as they may be. But, I believe many of us feel silenced in the world of fashion and art.
When was the last time you picked up a right-leaning fashion magazine? For a magazine that claims to represent and support all women, they are frankly doing the opposite, leaving out a great mass of women who support traditional values and enjoy dressing well.
As a conservative woman who feels quieted and unrepresented in such magazines, I expect some portrayal, if not equal portrayal. Are we that rare?
Vogue is not alone in using their platform for fashion to influence politics as well. Most fashion and art magazines are left-leaning and hold liberal views. In fact, a majority of the organizations that support the arts and fashion are also politically involved and lean to the left.
Now, I realize that holding fashion magazines to a journalistic standard of integrity and fair representation would be foolish. But is it foolish to expect some sort of light shone on conservative women?
The reason for this silencing of conservatives in fashion and art is a much larger topic and probably includes many different facets.
Many people think it’s that universities support exclusively liberal views and impress them on young college students. That raises the question, how are students so lacking in firm personal views that they are susceptible to being indoctrinated?
The answer could be the sudden downfall in stable family life and support, linked to the rise in divorce rates. All of these are plausible and frankly present a dim future.
This may seem like a hopeless predicament for the few of us who are conservative and also love fashion and the arts, but there are places we can go.
Elle, a similar fashion magazine, published an article in 2011 titled, “The Best and the Rightest” shining a positive light on strong conservative women. This was 7 years ago but shows that change is possible. Online you can find Future Female Leaders, a blog that claims to be “America's leading social movement for young, conservative women.” It champions right-leaning women and gives them a voice in this polarized field.
As a right-leaning college student, we are always having to defend and evaluate our beliefs, compared to more liberal students who are embraced and affirmed by professors and peers alike. Just think of it as an opportunity to grow and create well-grounded arguments for our ideas and convictions.
Despite all of this, I did not cancel my subscription to Vogue magazine. Why? Because I know what I believe and I refuse to compromise my interest in fashion and art due to lack of representation. Plus, unlike these magazines, I enjoy understanding the other side’s point of view and having a well-rounded understanding of politics and the world around me.
So where do conservatives go to find and participate in art they enjoy? For fashion lovers, there is a company called Christian Fashion Week that coordinates fashion shows highlighting Christian designers. Their aim is to nurture “freedom of expression through fashion while paying attention to the context of that expression. We believe in scripture and moderation.” They do fashion shows locally too, partnering with churches around the US to put together Christian based runway events.
For theater lovers, “Stage Right Productions” main goal is to “give credence to a truly marginalized group of artists whose voices are systematically silenced.” They host an annual Conservative Theater Festival that highlights conservative actors, playwrights, and spectators.
For those of us who dance, Texas has many Christian dance companies that consequently oppose liberal viewpoints and strengthen young artists in their faith. Dance is mentioned in the Bible multiple times as a form of worship and should be honored as such.
Personally, I was part of a Christian dance company and found it helpful during a time in my life where media and school were telling me one thing, and my faith was telling me another. There are also numerous art studios that teach with biblical views and specialize in teaching children the word of God while encouraging their artistic talents.
It may be difficult and seem like an uphill battle to seek out programs and material that support conservative and Christian values, but I think it’s worth it. In a world so polarized, we need more than ever to be firm in our beliefs and be able to back them up biblically. The best way to champion for change on this front is to support programs such as these and pursue avenues that change the status quo.