Words About Things

British fashion is taking off at home and abroad with eccentric designers Paul Smith and Vivienne Westwood leading the charge. More and more people are opting for British brands as well as overtly British items such as Union Jack print scarfs and handbags. A recent Vivienne Westwood ad featured Pamela Anderson in a Union Jack Skirt. But is this trend patriotic, protectionist or based on quality and great design?

Paul Smith is the biggest selling British designer but most of his sales occur overseas. He has been expanding over recent years, building new stores and concessions in large department stores. He is, as the old joke goes, very big in Japan. Amanda Ware is a buyer for a luxury gifts store in London who says that British themed accessories are flying off their shelves. “Paul Smith is strong with the Union Jack. It’s really flown over the past 8-12 weeks”.

Traditionally (over recent years at least) most British people would shy away from wearing the Union Jack or the St George’s Cross except perhaps during the World Cup. It is unfortunately often associated with the far-right although there is of course a big difference between national pride and bigotry. The bizarre belief that were you where born is superior to other places because you were born there is foolish whereas being proud of the achievements of British people (including designers) makes perfect sense.

Protectionism would certainly do more harm than good to the British fashion trade. The classic brand Burberry is reliant on Asia as it’s biggest market as is Paul Smith. International trade is important in all sectors and fashion is no different. The moral of the story: buy British fashion because it is stylish and well made not because it’s British.

There is a new trend in town for those who wish to completely rearrange their bodies in order to match up to an idealised body shape. There must be no end of money in these kind of products because as long as people an insecure they will be willing to spend money trying to ‘improve’ themselves. I’m torn between thinking it’s completely up to the individual what they do with their body and thinking that people need to just accept how they look and get over it.

The new product offers women the ability to make their bums look bigger. Padded Shorties are basically pants (if you are American bear in mind this means underwear not trousers) with fake buttocks stitched on to make your bum stick out more. I suppose it makes more sense than the ones that are supposed to make your bum smaller using industrial strength elastic. Either way they only work until the point you take them off and everything returns to normal.

Perhaps we are seeing a shift in what people see as attractive, towards those with more curves (bigger curves?). Apparently during tough economic times men prefer curvier women. These padded shorties are probably more to do with improving the self esteem of the women who buy them than impressing men. Men are pretty much just impressed by women in general.