Welcome Back, Trouser Jeans, and Friend Friday

T-shirt: Target
Trouser jeans: LOFT
Shoes: Rack Room
Scarf as belt and necklace: Inherited from grandmother
Earrings: Gift from parents


So first, the news: I have been eating healthy and going to the gym in order to fit back into these pants, and now I do! Yay! I celebrated by wearing them with one of my favorite t-shirts, and in one of my favorite color combingations: red, white, black and denim. And I felt great in this all day, which is my main litmus test of a good outfit.


And now, the reflection. I have been aware of, but haven't participated in, Modly Chic's Friend Friday questions before now, but I thought today's questions about feminism and fashion were really thought-provoking and wanted to join in. Feminism and academia are linked in a lot of ways, and I think the idea of feminism has taken on an ugly meaning with some people. The word conjures up images of women who hate men and want to see them brought low. In academia, those images are of women who are devoted to the study of hating men and bringing them low.


I am, and always have been, a big fan of men. I've been blessed to be surrounded by good men who respect women my whole life - first my father, now my husband - so I've never felt abused or oppressed by men. I recognize that not all men are like that though, and that some societies systematically abuse and oppress women. I consider myself a feminist because I believe men and women were created equal by God and deserve the same opportunities and respect.

1. Do you think there is an incompatibility between feminism and a love for fashion? No. To me, the end goal of feminism, is for women to be able to choose what they want and be given the same respect as men would be given for those choices, for better or for worse. Those choices include fashion. If a woman wants to dress like Audrey Hepburn or k.d. lang or Lady Gaga or Cinderella, or if she wants to cover her hair or dye it purple or shave it off, that's her choice.
2. There is more to each of than a love for fashion, how do you incorporate every aspect of yourself into your blog? What I decide to wear is affected by the rest of my life, so I talk about the rest of my life. I talk about my family, my career, my interests, and how I spend my free time. That stuff is my life. What I wear is a creative outlet.
3. With the fashion industry still being a male-dominated profession, how do you think it would differ if women played a larger role? I think more clothing would be suited for the average woman's body, and it would probably be more comfortable. Women are uniquely able to know what other women need from their clothes, in terms of both figure-flattery and comfort.
4. How is your self-image and the way you carry yourself informed by your beliefs? I'm a Christian, and I believe God loves me. I've believed that since I was little, which has given me a lot of self-respect. When you think the same Person who made the stars cares about you, you tend to like yourself more. I haven't always loved my body, my hair, or my skin (hello, adolescence), but knowing that I was created the way I am intentionally has helped me maintain an overall positive view of myself. That doesn't, on the surface, appear to have anything to do with feminism, but I believe it actually does. I respect myself, as a woman, because God values me as a woman. If he chose for me to be female, why should I feel any less than a man?
5. Do you think clothing/makeup/hair helps communicate the truth about yourself or are those things superfluous add-ons? I see my wardrobe as a way to express myself creatively, so I guess in that sense, I use it to communicate the truth about myself. I don't see my clothing/makeup/hair as superfluous, but rather as a means to let the way I see myself on the inside show through on the outside.

In the end, for me, being a woman is part of who I am, and liking clothes is part of who I am, and wanting other women to have choices and opportunities is part of who I am. I don't see any conflict between all those parts of me. And if feminism has achieved the goals for which I believe it exists, I don't think there should be.