How to Dress like a Feminist
- lauratinkler1
- Nov 30, 2020
- 6 min read
I've always considered myself a feminist. Growing up with a successful, single mother, I knew in every way that not only were women equal to men but also they should be treated accordingly. It was not until a few years ago, however, that I began understanding and learning about feminism on a political and idealogical level. As I consumed books, documentaries, and articles on the history and study of feminism, I also held up a mirror to my own life and values. Did my outward behavior align with my internal feminist principles?
A component of my life I quickly began to question was my traditional, feminine presentation and my focus on fashion. It's a question that has been debated since the idea of feminism first began. Are fashion and feminism mutually exclusive? Does fashion give women power or does it distract from their purpose? There are examples throughout history of femininity being both a hindrance and a weapon in the cause.
Personally, I have always felt my most powerful and professional when I felt confident in both my presentation and fashion choices; however, I have also experienced how my appearance can quickly become my defining feature. I have walked into a meeting and have had male colleagues comment on my full face of makeup. I have been told by managers that "it's a good thing I'm pretty." Somehow my looks and appearance took away from my competency and work. Why did something that made ME feel confident somehow make me less of a professional? In fact, why did it need to be commented on at all? At the time, these comments made me feel small and embarrassed. It made me further question if it were possible to have your place at the table while wearing lipstick and a fierce set of heels.
In the past, some women have utilized and capitalized on the male gaze and the focus on appearance. Playwright and actress Mae West always made her overt (and sometimes aggressive) femininity a feature player in her plays and movies. She shocked audiences by embracing her sexuality and stepping into the spotlight as a strong, unapologetic woman. By doing so, she not only changed they way women could be portrayed in works of fiction but also made real life steps toward getting women at that table. West was a major force in Hollywood on and off screen.
Image from Greenpointers
Fashion movements and moments have also signified major steps in the feminist movement. Women throughout history have used fashion to symbolize societal changes and further the feminist cause. Suffragette and editor of the first feminist newspaper Amelia Bloomer swapped her hoop skirt for a set of trousers in the 1800s. Her "bloomers" gave her the freedom to MOVE. In the 1900s, suffragettes used the colors green, purple, and white in their clothing choices to symbolize their cause. The bobbed haircut of the 1920s showed the growing freedoms of women at the time. Coco Chanel's two-piece suit of the 1930s signified women's progress in the workplace. In the sixties, women ditched the modest hemline of skirts for the new crazed mini-skirts. Gloria Steinem said,
"When we were told to give up our mini‐skirts for midis, there was a semi‐conscious boycott on the part of American women. We were fed up with being manipulated. We now wanted to make our own decisions on hundreds of things, not have them handed down from on high."
In 1974, Diane von Furstenberg invented a dress that would forever change the idea of women’s professional wear. During the second-wave of feminism, women were entering the workplace in high numbers and the need for functional clothes grew. One major selling point for the Furstenberg wrap dress was its comfort and ease. Made out of jersey-knit fabric, it not only felt good it also resisted wrinkles after hours of working. Furstenberg stated, “The fabric was the most important. When women tried on the dresses, it was the feel of the cotton-and-rayon blend that really sold them.” Furthermore, the dress featured a wide variety of print options and a universally flattering silhouette. At the time for women wearing it, it served a true purpose of function. Furstenberg spoke of its practicality saying,
“You’re not born comfortable, but to be uncomfortable is so not practical and not attractive."
The wrap dress was the perfect marriage of femininity and functionality and has since became a symbol of this time.
Today, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also takes advantage of her fashion and appearance to make social statements. She says her signature red lip and hoop earrings "were inspired by Sonia Sotomayor, who was advised to wear neutral-colored nail polish to her confirmation hearings to avoid scrutiny. She kept her red. Next time someone tells Bronx girls to take off their hoops, they can just say they’re dressing like a congresswoman." Ocasio-Cortez wears all-white suits to pay homage to the suffragettes. She makes deliberate choices to celebrate inclusivity and normalize fashion and beauty practices:
"When I wear a braid, it is to honor the African and Indigenous heritage that is part of being Puerto Rican. My family is Afro-Latina. When my niece was very little, it upset me to see how early she started to feel that her big, curly, beautiful, natural hair was anything other than gorgeous. I don't want my little nieces to ever be told that their hair or their braids are 'unprofessional.' That's why I chose to wear one today - to MAKE it normal and celebrated, with respect and honor of our ancestors, and to let every little girl out there know that they can bring their braids to Congress, too."
Image from PopSugar
It was actually a video AOC did for Vogue on her beauty routine that resonated with me personally, however. As she went through her skincare and makeup routine, she spoke of the power behind these choices and their importance; how she felt it was vital to even make a video like this and talk about her beauty and fashion decisions.
“Femininity has power and in politics, there is so much criticism and nitpicking about how women and feme people present ourselves. Just being a woman is quite politicized here in Washington. There’s this really false idea that if you care about makeup or if you care or your interests are in beauty or fashion that’s somehow frivolous but I actually think these are some of the most substantive decisions that we make and we make them every morning.”
There will always be those waiting to seize on the opportunity to take a woman down. The threat to their assumed, patriarchal power scares them. Look at the 2016 election when Hilary Clinton was mocked for her fashion choices. They were able to change the narrative from her political agenda to something not even worth discussing. The delicate balance of power and distraction that comes from a woman's appearance and fashion is still a difficult one. However, I am starting to think it comes down to the individual. For someone like AOC, fashion is power not only because of how it makes her feel but also because of the messages it can send. For others not interested in fashion, their lack of focus on it should not be something to be critiqued. Ultimately, it should not be an issue PERIOD.
So how do you dress like a feminist? You wear what makes you feel powerful. You wear what gives you confidence and strength. There is no right and wrong. There isn't a dress code for being a feminist.
Disclaimer: I am not an expert on the study of feminism nor fashion. These are my thoughts and opinions and I am always open to learning more on the subject.
For more on the subject, check out these links:
Mae West, Feminist and Progressive
The Evolution of Feminist Style
Feminism's Effect on Fashion
**Written in 1977, this article from The New York Times offers an interesting perspective
Power dressing: a history of feminist statement-making fashion
How Women Have Used Fashion as a Feminist Tool
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Knows You'll Talk About Her Clothes, So She's Using Them To Say Something
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Guide to Her Signature Red Lip | Beauty Secrets | Vogue
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