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In this article, you'll get some insight on some specific fashion points that you may not have known about before! Let's dive in together to learn about something new!
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Does fashion dictate culture or is it the other way around? That’s been a point of contention among many fashion critics, historians, and subcultures. Regardless, fashion has become a medium of communication. This way, it becomes a tool for people to convey emotions— from anger all the way to exuberance. Fashion movements have reflected the zeitgeist of the community that gave rise to them. As such, fashion and culture have become inextricably linked, that much is clear in these fearless style subcultures:
Congolese Sapeurs
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Among the Congolese capitals of Brazzaville and Kinshasa, there’s a subset of residents who are considered local celebrities. They’re members of the Société des Ambianceurs et des Personnes Élégantes (Sape) or Society of Ambience-Makers and Elegant People in English. From the name itself, you can already surmise that this subculture was influenced by France.
Congo has been a French colony from the 1880s up until 1960, and today, they’re one of the poorest regions in the world. This makes the presence of La Sapeurs an extraordinary sight. They’re decked out in sartorial get-ups, fit for the runways of Paris and Milan. The clincher is that these ornate outfits are set against the backdrop of poverty; Congo is the second-poorest country in the world, after all. As the name suggests, La Sapeurs strive to create a scene where the Congolese people can revel in beauty, if only temporarily.
[GHOST GiRL's Take: *sings to self Justin Timberlake's "Suit and Tie". Nothing says "I'm stylish and fancy" than a clean cut, well fitted suit.]
Harajuku Street Style
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The Harajuku district in central Tokyo is considered the epicenter of several iconic street styles including Lolita, Cosplay, and Gyaru, among many others. The styles birthed by the youth in the area have created ripples worldwide. GHOST GiRL GOODS, for one, has become so enamored with Harajuku style that we began to carry brands from there. Indeed, Harajuku has earned a name for itself for being one of the best places to see and experience street culture and style.
What’s interesting is that Tokyo is filled with salarymen and persons toting suitcases in gray and pinstripes— Japan is rife with rigid social expectations. There’s barely any room for the youth to experiment and explore outside of societal norms. Harajuku, then, is a haven where Japanese youth can meet up wearing over-the-top outfits.
[GHOST GiRL's Take: The link they included directs to my previous blog post about the brands that I offer here on GHOST GiRL GOODS. Since I haven't been able to visit Japan due to the changing world situation, I haven't been able to revisit those lovely shops where I stock up on some goodies to offer everyone here locally!! I hope that I'll be able to travel again soon-ish. I mis]
Moroccan Motorbike Women
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Morocco is a country that’s deeply rooted in its Muslim faith. In fact, Moroccans – even the new, more liberated generation – still honor the culture of dressing conservatively up to this day. Although, a new breed of Moroccan women are definitely putting their own spin on the everyday dress— and aboard motorbikes.
Still following the traditional silhouette of dresses that go down to the ankles, these women use accessories, prints, and patterns. This serves as an out-of-the-box way for Moroccan women to showcase their personalities and subtly accentuate their features. As seen in most dresses for petites, patterns such as stripes can be used to create the illusion of being taller. When used in a horizontal orientation, stripes can create the illusion of widening the body; strategically placed stripes can accentuate the hips. Lots of Moroccan women also utilize bright patterns and bold prints to stand out and be noticed in a society that’s dominantly patriarchal and has minimized their voices for decades.
Similar to the society at large, style subcultures are always in flux. They change along with new trends, times, and mindsets. And they always tell stories of the people behind them.
[GHOST GiRL's Take: This seems similar to the yanki/bosozoku biker girl gangs in Japan! Perhaps in many countries, female biker gangs help to empower women, while also being fashionable! If you have never heard about this, check out this article I found that includes a bunch of photos too!]
This article was submitted by Emily Clarke
Emily Clarke is a fashion writer and aspiring stylist. She loves keeping up with the latest trends in the industry. She enjoys baking during her free time. Thank you for your entry! --- For sponsored blog post information, please email us through our "contact us" page!