“Gird Your Loins!”
Didn’t you LOVE that line uttered by the Stanley Tucci character in The Devil Wears Prada?
It was a signal to employees (who worked at a fashion magazine) that a holy terror was about to descend on their offices—said La Terrorista being the magazine’s intimidating and acerbic editor, Amanda Priestly (played exquisitely by the exquisite Meryl Streep).
That’s the way I feel about 2010. We must be on guard. 2009 was an Annus Horribilis. We cannot afford another such year—mentally, economically, politically. The raging health care debate in 2009 illustrated clearly how political agendas take precedent over the welfare of average Americans.
Because we are carrying the aftermath of 2009—the uncertainty, the fear, the stress, the betrayal of public institutions to do right by The People (see AAPS blogs)—on our shoulders, so to speak, I see a fashion trend taking hold that will mirror the zeitgeist of our nation: Big Shoulders.
We must gird ourselves against the onslaught of even more negativity being piled on us—like the continuing demise of our democracy not being a reflection “The Will of the People,” but instead a reflection of “Special Interests with Money” get their way.
We need to protect our society, our way of life, our families and ourselves. I predict fashion will follow suit.
The Big Shoulders fashion statement crept into 2009 with an emphasis on the broadening of shoulders in women’s jackets. But I think we’ve ain’t seen nuthin’ yet. Subconsciously we might be saying to ourselves: “If I have to shoulder the weight of my problems, I need reinforcements.” We might subconsciously then be drawn to this big jacket look as a way of pumping ourselves up.
In addition to just larger/padded shoulders, I also see more embellishments (such as chains and other decorations) as a way of saying (again subconsciously), “I may have to put on a suit of armor to get by, I still want to look good doing it.”
Recently there have been fashion photos depicting the rise of Shoulder Accents.
If you are an “ahead of the curve” fashionista, you can jump on this fashion accessory train without waiting to buy a store-bought shoulder-embellished item of clothing.
You can go the DIY route. Take your favorite jacket, coat, blazer, dress, sweater, bikini (?), etc. an add something to the shoulder area. You can go feminine and frilly—like silk flowers or feathers. You can go anti-PETA animalistic and add fur swatches. Or even buy those animal pelts with the heads still on them (YUK!) at the Goodwill for $5—if you’re so inclined.
You can go glam with brooches or jeweled dress clips.
You can go Cher with chains or spikes.
You can go Andy Warhol with soup cans.
Use your imagination. You can use whatever you like and whatever is an expression of you. Decorate one or both shoulders, depending on how big a statement you want to communicate—or how much “protection” you feel you need.
I have a great idea for me. I’m going to take one on my vintage designer blazers (Armani, Valentino, or Christian LaCroix that I purchased on EBay at bargain prices) and add vintage chatelaines on both shoulders.
What’s a chatelaine?
A chatelaine is a piece of antique jewelry that takes it name from the same word chatelaine meaning a mistress of a castle or elegant household.
This jewelry originated in the mid 1800s. It can be a brooch with hanging accouterments, such as lockets or thimble. Most of the chatelaines I’ve seen are of a double brooch kind connected in the middle by chains. I have a small collection of Victorian/Art Nouveau replicas. As soon as I create my fashion masterpiece and learn how to use my digital camera, I’ll put pix on my blog. Stay tuned…
In the meantime, buck up. Shoulders back. Could be a tough a New Year. But we’re tuff, too!
Fashion can help us absorb the trying times we live in. FuchsiaWomen can handle it. Especially if we’re wearing really cool clothes.
Natalie Portman "girds" her shoulders!
If you want to buy chainmail shoulder attachments:
http://www.sblades.com/ID-T20.php
Check out these outrageous Shoulder Statements by designer Dean Sideway:
http://dearribaaabajo.blogspot.com/2009/12/shoulder-embellishment.html
You forgot Andrew Jackson’s Big Block of Cheese with nary a macaroni in sight.
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