Check out my Foam Magazine guest spot here...
I have been working in the fashion and publishing world ever since I can remember--my mother was a photographer, and I booked my first model-gig around age 7 thanks to the environment I was in. Of course my mother never, ever wanted me to model professionally--knowing very well the kind of depravity that is involved--but of course I had to find out on my own. So I have been around the fashion world for the majority of my life, also why I see through all the ridiculous gimmicks they use to sell the same-old-same-old in a redesigned package to the masses ever six months. But, being around it, you acquire quite a diverse collection of pieces. I have been lucky to have been given a lot of pieces from shoots, and just traveling around so much--with my mom, and later with MTV show, and beyond--you just end up collecting a lot of stuff on the road, many of which are valuable life lessons. I still do it; I'm not a glutton for punishment, I just don't work for companies who only book pre-teens or the starved. And I know a lot of you have had questions about getting into that industry, and I can promise you, there is a place for everyone. Anyone who subscribes to, or tries to present themselves as better than anyone else are just victims. Exclusivity is only for people who feel powerful holding things over the heads of others to make themselves feel better about whatever lack and hate is in their own lives.
The world of fashion has become so important in our culture, I have seen it grow more and more influential, to this fever pitch it is at now where it seems a lot of self-worth is placed on your looks, what you wear, and what you do for a living--it no longer seems to be about creativity and more importantly, fun. It seems like a stress to a lot of people, especially with the fantasy expectations of how you are suppose to look, and the money you have to come up with to get the things they say you need this season, and the status you need to be seen as worthy among your peers. More and more now I am noticing this silent competition, mainly between women, that is pitting us against each other in this image contest--even if you haven't agreed to enter it! A large part of the media perpetuated this, only encouraging this elitist attitude in image and fashion, making one feel the need to join in on this separateness among girls where there should be only love and support for each other.
We have to get passed this drama; could you imagine what we could do if we all were together in this as opposed to spending time in competition, in jealousy, in fear? Competition only exists in the mind of the person playing the game, but if you are't aware, that energy can really suck you in to their game. I don't care who you are, where you went to school, how many tangible or intangible assets you have, who your parents are, how much money you make, how famous you are, how cool you think you are: we are all equal, we are all the same, and not one of us is more entitled than the next--and if you walk around with those bad attitudes running in your mind, it is way more obvious than you think, and guess what: we can all see it. This modern materialism has buried all true importance and meaning, and placed image as the most important thing--even if it is an image of what is intellectual, what is beautiful, what is ugly--and those things can confuse a person who is looking for life answers to the point of either complying with the establishment out of fear of acceptance, or resentment and even depression. I mean, somewhere around 50% of the population lives on less than $2 a day and most of them are so much more content and thankful than we are in our Western world, and we're here so wrapped up in these hollow, ridiculous tribulations that they just would fall to the floor and laugh at! Wouldn't you rather be the one laughing?
So yes, fashion is fun--I think that is what it was suppose to be about before it became this competition, in a world that is so oppressive and confining. Just don't take anything too seriously, this is all an illusion anyway. I have said it many times before, but I want to add it in here again: do what you love, and only do what makes you happy. It isn't your job to make other people happy, or to go along with where they think your life's path is suppose to lead. Only you know what makes you tick, only you can answer those questions. Your parents can't, they gave you life, and the rest is up to you to decide. You teachers can't tell you, and your friends certainly can't tell you either--they'll only tell you what benefits them. Living up to someone else's ideals will never lead to anything other than stress and unhappiness, and the meaning of life is to make what you want out of it--no matter what that may be, you are in charge. Don't let social norm's, your friends, family, the past, your credit cards, your fears, your therapist, psychic, spouse, or your guilt ever dictate what you do. It is your job to make yourself happy, it isn't anyone else's. When John Lennon stressed to us "all you need is love," don't you know he was right?
