The modern age is currently very much a time of constant and progressive change, especially with regards to the female experience. Whilst indeed there is still a rather depressing disparity between the earnings of men and women and an inequality with regards to male and female positions within the social hierarchy, women are currently experiencing the highest levels of autonomy and respect that they have experienced perhaps since the dawn of civilization. With the rise of feminism and gender equality, women are wrestling their autonomy away from the hands of patriarchies and asserting themselves as individuals, but in what ways?
Fashion is naturally the primary way in which modern women are asserting their individuality. Gone are the backward days where paranoid fathers or husbands clumsily dictated what their wives and daughters could wear and women now can, quite rightly, wear whatever the heck they want! As with any fashion followed throughout the ages, part of the reason particular women are drawn to particular fashion trends is due to the profile and image they wish to create for themselves.
Today, women are, in many ways, much like any other individual on this world when it comes to fashion; focused on fulfilling and appearing to adhere to their individual wants, loves and ideals, and as such there are a million linkages between personalities and fashions. Stronger women might conform to a more formal, sleek fashion, but any traveler to a more liberal area might just as easily meet a strong minded woman who enjoyed wearing colorful, sustainable, somewhat ‘hippyish’ pieces of clothing. Individual fashion is wonderfully subjective and both can’t and shouldn’t have to conform to stereotypical definitions.
That being said, there are trends that are experienced by all modern women, these being informed by society-wide trends, many of which are not born in fashion yet still manifest themselves within fashions at a later point. Women are far more likely nowadays to identify with traditionally masculine pursuits such as casinos and gambling. Walk in to any casino across the world today and you can plainly see that the trite notion of women purely being there to decorate the arm of a wealthy gentleman has been well and truly put to rest. Women are enjoying gaming as its level of social acceptance rises. It’s not just nights out at casinos that are being enjoyed; online gaming sites such as Ruby Fortune and Bingo-based sites are being made for and consumed by female audiences, these women actively taking part in these aspects of the gaming subculture and wrestling control of activities and stereotypes traditionally enjoyed only by men..
The hipster scene has traditionally been a hotbed of progressive ideals, and as such is a subculture many women indentify with. It may be an overused and perhaps incorrect stereotype, but wearing limited-release and second hand pieces of clothing requires a good deal of shopping, this being definitely the good, exploratory type of shopping. Within indie hipsterdom, music, art and culture are key, and many have identified with it as a result.
Thank you for using the Fashion Industry Network. Have you helped another member today? Answer questions in the forum. It brings good luck.