Fashion Disaster

One of my new year's resolutions was to write on this blog at least once a week. Obviously, that plan has failed miserably thus far. Regardless, here is a new post.

A few days ago, I was flipping through a fairly recent issue of "Entertainment Weekly," and was dismayed to see that Björk is STILL being burned for wearing that swan dress way back in 2000. The last time I complained about this, I didn't have a blog, so I am seizing this opportunity to get all of my feelings out on this issue.

Firstly, I need to say that this isn't about me being a Björk fan. I am, in fact, a Björk fan, but I think I'd still feel the same if the artist in question were, say, Garth Brooks or Ludacris. I don't feel like anyone should ever have to put up with criticisms regarding their clothing. As long as certain body parts are covered, I don't see the use in calling people out on their wardrobe choices just because you would have chosen something different.

Secondly, why are we still talking about this? Didn't this happen an entire decade ago? It is waaaay past time to move on! Did the swan dress make a big statement? Perhaps. Probably. But big statements don't necessarily equal bad statements. Did it hurt anyone? Not that I'm aware of. Did she have the right to wear the thing? Of course. Do we have the right to comment on it? Of course. I just don't understand why so many feel the need to exercise this right to perpetuate negativity and creative oppression.When you go to the Oscars, you can wear whatever you want. You can make the choice to not wear plaid or necklaces with gigantic beads or swan dresses. Or you can choose to step outside the box and wear something interesting and risk public criticism. Either way, that choice should be yours to make without worrying about others think. I'll bet Ms. B. thought she looked very nice when she left her house the evening of the Oscars. Why trash on her?

Björk's swan dress is constantly brought up whenever anyone talks about red carpet fashion disasters. Then Lady GaGa can wear a gigantic plastic iceberg, but she never ends up on a "Worst" list. That's really not a diss on The Lady, but double standards really bother me.

This issue goes beyond celebrity, in my opinion. As far as I'm concerned, there is really no such thing as a fashion faux pas (I hope I spelled that correctly). Who's to say what goes with what? Why should anyone's clothing have to "go" with anything? If I want to wear one plaid slip-on shoe and one black velcro tennis shoe, that's my business. If I like what I'm wearing, who are you to tell me it's atrocious? That's just your opinion, and you are entitled to it, but what good is you telling me that going to do?

I guess what I'm really trying to say here is that with things as subjective as fashion and aesthetics, it seems unnecessary and pretentious to state one's opinion as fact. It's good that we have opinions (negative opinions included) but I don't need to hear you complaining about Drew Barrymore's dress as if wearing it were the same as stabbing a puppy. The same goes for Björk's dress. It's not a bad dress, you just don't like it much. YOU can wear something else.