What is fashion if not inspiration? In the words of the iconic Blair Waldorf, “Fashion is the most powerful art there is. It is movement, design and architecture all in one.” The entire concept of fashion is based on inspiration. Designers have muses, or they get inspired from their surroundings, heritage or different cultures. It only makes sense that the people who want to work in fashion have inspiration that helps fuel their passion, because this industry is not like any other, you cannot be in the fashion industry if you don’t have a passion for it. I think we all learnt our lessons from The Devil Wears Prada. Mentioning Blair Waldorf and The Devil Wears Prada in the span of one paragraph must have you believing that I am as basic as they get. Maybe that is true, and if it is then so what? Fashion works because of these very people who get called basic. Am I right or am I right?
As I said before, fashion is nothing but inspiration, every person you meet or know has a story of how they got there, be it Anna Wintour, Ellie Saab or Karl Lagerfeld. Now I could pretend to be the perfect candidate and talk about the giants of the industry and how they inspired me. They do, no doubt about that, but there are many other facets to exactly why I strive to be a part of the world of fashion. I’ll start from the beginning. I first decided on a career in fashion when I was fourteen years old. What led me to make that decision? Well, Anna Wintour of course. The very first thing that had inspired me was when I found out that when she was asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, she responded with “The editor-in-chief of Vogue magazine.” I read it and all I wanted in that moment was to bridge the gap between my ideal self and real self just as easily as she had done. The confidence and self-assurance drew me in like nothing ever had. It seems to me, that almost all girls who are my age or are in their twenties fell in love with fashion after watching Gossip Girl. Same is the case with me, I watched Gossip Girl, fell in love with Blair Waldorf’s style and knew the only profession in which I could dress to my heart’s content would be fashion. Her preppy and sophisticated style and the deep love she had for fashion surely inspired many. A year ago, I read a book called ‘The Art of Seduction’, amongst the many examples of the seducers of history was the example of the iconic Marilyn Monroe. Now she was the kind of woman who had the entire world at her feet. Her aura and beauty, her role as a fashion icon will be remembered by many generations. What I liked the most about her was how she bought body-conscious designs forth and embraced her curvy and seductive figure in a way not many dared to at the time. ‘The Blonde Bombshell’, as she was referred to, was seen as a symbol of sexual freedom. But she was so much more than that, from the fashion perspective her sultry yet demure style gave the decade’s women a new ideal. Having Ms. Monroe as an inspiration may be a little unorthodox, but that is exactly what makes it so special. She challenged the societal norms while playing into the fantasies of the masses. What could be more iconic? Now Audrey Hepburn on the other hand couldn’t be more different. Her slender figure was quite at odds with the curvaceous bombshells of her time. During the second World War women’s clothing had been practical and utilitarian, and once fashion started moving in the opposite direction, Hepburn’s ultra feminine style in her movies caught the eye of those who were up to date on the recent trends. Regardless of what decade it is, celebrities are often viewed as something of a public property void of feelings and not entirely human. Despite this, Audrey is still an inspiration to many girls when it comes to keeping our femininity intact and choosing to remain kind. Her work as a humanitarian and her quotes about kindness being the greatest tip for beauty are simply just more reasons to love her and follow in her footsteps. I believe I wouldn’t be doing myself justice if I don’t mention this next point on what inspires me, unlike my other inspirations not everyone might get this next one. You see since I was a child, I have been a little spacey (not that it effects my work ethic in any way, if that is a concern) and by that one can gather that I am a reader and a writer. Being spacey and reading usually come hand in hand for some reason. So, my next inspiration will definitely have to be books. I once wrote an article that talked of how fashion and literature are the threads in one tapestry. The gist of the article is that through literature we form an opinion and we explore ideas that we find intriguing and fashion, for many, is a way to express oneself and their opinions along with interpreting what one sees in a unique way. Fashion and literature come hand in hand and are influenced by one another. Literature has given us readers brilliant icons such as Anna Karenina and Jane Eyre who have inspired a myriad of designers. Fashion lovers and fiction lovers have one thing in common: a fantasy fetish.
In the realm of fashion, inspirations serve as the lifeblood that breathes creativity in the industry. I do not know how my inspirations are monuments to my passion for fashion, but I do know that my love for it is unwavering. And if that ever falls short, my ambition will definitely come to my rescue.
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