Loved reading this! I always find myself hesitating when wanting to throw on a frilly, ultra-feminine dress because of a lot of similar thoughts. However, I remind myself that, despite fashion being a political tool for parties and companies and brands, fashion is a political tool for everyday people too. Authentic expression of style (whatever that style may be) can be a form of resistance! It just sucks that certain styles and cuts have been co-opted into conservative aesthetics especially when they were unrelated in the first place.
i currently have a WIP kinda related to this but beauty is based on people’s cultural background, so of course we like those things. The sad part is that american society is so connected to white supremacy and cisheteropatriarchy and consumerism that people who believe in those things have a monopoly on the cultural identity they have always has to share with us
Anne is a hero - also this essay reminds me of the movie Babette's Feast - which a college professor introduced me to. At the time, I was surrounded by a white christian culture that hated on all things that brought joy and pleasure. my professor brought that movie to our class and the ensuing discussion re-aligned how I view my joy in life. Ever since, I've fiercely fought to defend what brings me and others joy - whether it's a four-course meal, a day at Disney, or a simple evening walk. highly recommend!
omg, you said everything that i was thinking! i’m latina, so i’m not even white, but i come from a privileged family who sheltered me and i too grew up in country clubs and private schools. being a latino and a conservative is a fucking joke. most people in my country worship the us & trump & all that shit and it’s very telling. it’s an inferiority complex that’s very rooted in our culture. i think i only escaped from being an asshole because 1. i’m weird & neurodivergent & gay so no one in this world liked me 2. the internet raised me, and talking to so many different people online made me realize that diversity is not something to be feared. sometimes i fall into the trap of “ugh, i’m wearing too much pink” or “i’m being too much of a girl”, but idk, i think there’s power in being a girl in this day and age. it’s powerful to be proud to be a girl in a world that hates girls…
I was contending with a very similar train of thought until I got off TikTok and instagram. When you are not being influenced every other post you can start to find out who you really are without the noise. If you weren’t shown the gingham dress online, what might you have chosen instead? There’s so much out there and it’s all an ad lol
really really enjoyed reading this! as someone who has never lived in the US and doesn’t own a single iota of gingham I still found it very relevant - been thinking loads about the interlace of values and aesthetic. thanks for sharing :)
I have often felt the same! For years I held on to my trusty (and crusty) Nalgene, secretly envious of the Stanley cup girls… and once I tried a friend’s Stanley, I immediately loved it. 😂 Conservatives don’t get to “reserve” entire swaths of fashion. I think it’s important to see liberals wearing the frilly things too. Who cares what someone thinks when they first see you wearing something more feminine? What comes out of your mouth is much more substantial and important than what you are wearing. I think we should show the world that fashion taste is just fashion taste, not necessarily an indicator of political ideology.
Marissa, thank you so much for writing this. I was raised in/ fully agreed with Christian Conservative values - 'til I got married @ 26 & began actually having real conversations about other perspectives & realities & the many contradictions the Right / the church perpetrates: & my gem of a husband encouraged me to think for myself. 🙌🏼 Wading through so many similar thoughts & feelings now. 🩷💜🩷
Loved reading this! I always find myself hesitating when wanting to throw on a frilly, ultra-feminine dress because of a lot of similar thoughts. However, I remind myself that, despite fashion being a political tool for parties and companies and brands, fashion is a political tool for everyday people too. Authentic expression of style (whatever that style may be) can be a form of resistance! It just sucks that certain styles and cuts have been co-opted into conservative aesthetics especially when they were unrelated in the first place.
Using your Stanley to beat racists is the most punk rock thing you can do, who cares what you are wearing. ❤️
I have never been called punk rock ever in my life so thank you for this
i currently have a WIP kinda related to this but beauty is based on people’s cultural background, so of course we like those things. The sad part is that american society is so connected to white supremacy and cisheteropatriarchy and consumerism that people who believe in those things have a monopoly on the cultural identity they have always has to share with us
mhmm mhmm mhmmmmmmm
Shoutout to Anne she ate that
she really did 🙂↕️
Anne is a hero - also this essay reminds me of the movie Babette's Feast - which a college professor introduced me to. At the time, I was surrounded by a white christian culture that hated on all things that brought joy and pleasure. my professor brought that movie to our class and the ensuing discussion re-aligned how I view my joy in life. Ever since, I've fiercely fought to defend what brings me and others joy - whether it's a four-course meal, a day at Disney, or a simple evening walk. highly recommend!
This was on my to-watch list, merely from a foodie influencer recommending it. Will now be watching tonight! Thank you for sharing all that!
omg, you said everything that i was thinking! i’m latina, so i’m not even white, but i come from a privileged family who sheltered me and i too grew up in country clubs and private schools. being a latino and a conservative is a fucking joke. most people in my country worship the us & trump & all that shit and it’s very telling. it’s an inferiority complex that’s very rooted in our culture. i think i only escaped from being an asshole because 1. i’m weird & neurodivergent & gay so no one in this world liked me 2. the internet raised me, and talking to so many different people online made me realize that diversity is not something to be feared. sometimes i fall into the trap of “ugh, i’m wearing too much pink” or “i’m being too much of a girl”, but idk, i think there’s power in being a girl in this day and age. it’s powerful to be proud to be a girl in a world that hates girls…
I was contending with a very similar train of thought until I got off TikTok and instagram. When you are not being influenced every other post you can start to find out who you really are without the noise. If you weren’t shown the gingham dress online, what might you have chosen instead? There’s so much out there and it’s all an ad lol
really really enjoyed reading this! as someone who has never lived in the US and doesn’t own a single iota of gingham I still found it very relevant - been thinking loads about the interlace of values and aesthetic. thanks for sharing :)
I have often felt the same! For years I held on to my trusty (and crusty) Nalgene, secretly envious of the Stanley cup girls… and once I tried a friend’s Stanley, I immediately loved it. 😂 Conservatives don’t get to “reserve” entire swaths of fashion. I think it’s important to see liberals wearing the frilly things too. Who cares what someone thinks when they first see you wearing something more feminine? What comes out of your mouth is much more substantial and important than what you are wearing. I think we should show the world that fashion taste is just fashion taste, not necessarily an indicator of political ideology.
This was so relatable!! Thank you so much
Marissa, thank you so much for writing this. I was raised in/ fully agreed with Christian Conservative values - 'til I got married @ 26 & began actually having real conversations about other perspectives & realities & the many contradictions the Right / the church perpetrates: & my gem of a husband encouraged me to think for myself. 🙌🏼 Wading through so many similar thoughts & feelings now. 🩷💜🩷