At Monday nights, the network airs the worst show I have ever been unfortunate enough to catch: Style by Jury. It’s a make-over show that tricks an “unfashionable” person to come in for a job interview or audition. While the person talks to the show’s host, a jury of about 10 random people observe from behind a two-way mirror, ripping apart the contestant’s style and attacking his or her appearance.
Sounds like an average reality show, I know. But I think the whole concept is absolutely awful.
According to the dictionary on my computer’s dashboard, style is “a distinctive appearance, typically determined by the principles according to which something is designed." This definition sounds like it's referring to art or architecture (the dictionary used the columns of a building as an example) but I think it we can interpret it a little differently to get my point across.
I think everyone should have a distinctive appearance. Sometimes that means nothing more than modeling personal style after catalogue cut outs, other times that means turning a bed sheet into an evening gown. Either way, no matter how cookie-cutter or unique, everyone has a distinct appearance. The catch is, though, the principles according to which that appearance is created are designed by each individual. What you wear on the outside is, consciously or subconsciously, a reflection of who you are on the inside.
Style and fashion are likenesses of your personality. More accurately, style and fashion are your personality. It's a physical representation of the intangible self. Which is why I have such a problem with Style by Jury. When these "jurors" rule on the ambushed contestant, they aren't just commenting on clothes and accessories - they're attacking the innocent's identity.
To prevent coming off as a hypocrite in this, previous or later posts, let me write a quick sidebar. First impressions and unfair judgments are at the heart of Style by Jury - there wouldn't be much basis for the show without those nasty snap criticisms. The act of judging, however, isn’t the issue. To quote the wisdom of Sex and the City:
Carrie: Do I judge?
Stanford: We all judge. That's our hobby. Some people do arts and crafts; we judge.
Judging’s not a bad thing – it’s kind of like an in-born defense mechanism like the gut feeling. The problem lies in actually acting on those judgments, when you give more weight to your personal opinion than others’ feelings.
As far as I’m concerned, there’s no such thing as being in-style or out of fashion. People should wear what they are comfortable in. If you’re comfortable in your clothes, you’re confident in your skin. And being happy with yourself is always fashionable.
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