You probably have never heard of Elizabeth Hawes, but she was a successful American-born RTW and couture designer, fashion copyist, and stylist in both Paris and The States in the early 20th century. In 1938, she wrote a brilliant book about the fashion industry titled "Fashion is Spinach." Essentially, she hated spinach and thought that fashion wasn't worth a hoot either. A fashion designer who hates fashion might leave you nonplussed, but Hawes was truly more of a style purveyor, who took issue with the notion that fashion need be controlled by the haute couture, and enjoyed only by the ne plus ultra of society. To express this point of view, she offered up some gems: "Style is the thing which, being looked back upon after a century, gives you the fundamental mental feeling for a certain period in history. Style doesn't change every month or every year. It only changes as often as there is a real change in the point of view and lives of the people for whom it is produced. Style changes every seven years or so, and any dress which isn't in style for at least three years isn't any good to begin with. " And the real zinger: "Fashion is the horrid little man with an evil eye who tells you that your last winter's coat may be in perfect physical condition, but you can't wear it. You can't wear it because it has a belt, and this year 'we are not showing belts.'"
Now, don't get me wrong: I adore fashion and work in the industry. But I applaud Ms. Hawes' philosophy that one should cultivate a personal style rather than fall victim to trends every six months.
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