INTRODUCING INTIMATES TO THE WORLD OUTSIDE
Fair warning: Reading ahead (or even the title for that matter) will put you in contact with some controversial “bad” words. These are words that carry a heavy negative connotation, words that are used to bring people down, women in particular. They are demeaning words, words with the intention to wound. Yet, it's words like these, derogatory words, that get people’s attention.
So now that I have your attention, let's talk about an important topic -
SOCIETY'S NEED TO POLICE WOMEN'S CLOTHING CHOICES.
A woman stands in front of her closet.
Trying to figure out what to wear, what to wrap around her body, what armour to throw on to face the day ahead. Changing her mind over & over again, not because there are too little or too many options, but because she knows that no matter what she picks, someone will have an opinion about it.
It seems that no matter what lies on top of her skin, no matter how much of it is revealed, no matter how she chooses to wrap the cloth that covers her, there will be some sort of reaction.
Judgement, ogling, belittlement, cat calling, threats, questioning, shame...
you name it, she has experienced it.
Whether it be pegged as too revealing, too dull, too shabby, or just “too much,” it boils down to the same problem: Women’s clothing choices are constantly under attack.
Of course this sort of judgment in regards to fashion preferences is experienced by all people & all identities, but in general, women are far more policed when it comes to clothing. As a woman, your "character" comes into question should you ever choose to dress or behave in a way that society deems as immodest. This mentality was enforced in our schools as young girls & as we age, the unattainable expectation of being the "perfect woman"continues to be engrained deep within us.
But here's the thing about the "perfect woman" - she's a load of BS.
She's modest but bold, she's smart but not too vain, she's opinionated but never loud.
She's curvy but not too big, she's fit but not too thin.
Her dress is fitted but not too tight, her face is made-up but not too much.
She's sexy but not too revealing, she's simple but never sloppy, she's confident but not too proud.
She's this but not that.
She's an impossible endeavour, completely unachievable & unable to please everyone.
SO WHY DO WE FEEL THAT WE NEED TO BE LIKE HER?
C'mon, she doesn't even seem like that much fun!
If showing some skin means being called a slut or a whore & covering up too much means being called a prude or a bore, then why do we even bother stepping out the door?
Our words hold immeasurable power. Some words inspire, spark passion, joy & hope, & there are others that wound, that simply serve as tools of oppression. "Slut", "whore", "hoe" - a few of the many hateful words used against women to put them down, dehumanize them. There’s so much stigma attached to words like these. So, why leave these harmful words in a place where they can wound, when we can pick them back up, dust them off, & find ways to reuse them in order to bring light to those who have been harmed. Let's reclaim them, starting with dressing the way we choose to, regardless of society's expectations.
Clothing speaks, whether we want it to or not, & sadly, the way it speaks doesn't depend solely on what we intend it to say. Here, the interpretation, is where things get a little messy. Someone's always going to have an opinion to share, a judgement to make & something to say about business that is not their own. But living your life constantly walking on eggshells, trying not to offend a living soul, just to bother someone the moment you make a sound, is not really living.
Women shouldn't (& DON'T) exist
to simply dress for or cater to
what society wants them to be.
Women should have the right to choose
how to represent themselves on their own terms
& not be criticized for it.
“Our culture is so overwhelmed by the concept of females as sexual beings that whenever it comes to light, it is immediately seen as the only facet of a woman. It’s perfectly fine for us to see women as sexual objects, but once she becomes a sexual subject, she can’t be anything else. She can’t be ladylike, intelligent, politically conscious, or respectable…We seem to be afraid of women who can be all of this and more when really, we should admire and learn from them.”
— Isabella Milch, Sex, Power, And The Multifaceted Woman
SO, let's stick it to the man! Let's learn from all of the amazing women across the globe who lead by example, & live our lives freely with no shame. Let's reclaim ownership of our bodies, our femininity, our sexuality, & the words that were made to bring us down. Let's not waste another moment second guessing the clothing we choose to wear. Let's take pride in our individuality & share our most truthful, authentic, & intimate selves with the world outside our door.
Bring out the slips, bustiers, & corsets!
Decorate yourself in the most luxurious silks & loudest prints!
(& if that's not your shit than bring out literally anything & everything else!)
GO BOLD
GO WHORE
GO WILD
GO TAME
GO CRAZY
GO SANE
GO BIG
OR GO HOME.
GO WHEREVER YOU WANT, HOWEVER YOU CHOOSE.
Introduce the world to your most intimate self.
xx C
PHOTOGRAPHY: KITTY EVANS @kittyevansphoto
OUTFIT ANTHEM: PIECE OF ME - BRITNEY SPEARS
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4FF6MpcsRw
OUTFIT DETAILS:
BOSS BITCH
VINTAGE BLACK LACE BUSTIER - EVA B VINTAGE
COW PRINT PENCIL SKIRT - EVA B VINTAGE
SANTANA WHITE DENIM JACKET - THRIFTED
HEELS - BUFFALO EXCHANGE
BELT - EVA B VINTAGE
NECKLACES - THRIFTED
MEGA HOOPS - EVA B VINTAGE
FLORAL FANTASY
VINTAGE WHITE LACE BUSTIER - RERUNS VINTAGE
WHITE TENNIS SKIRT - AMERICAN APPAREL
VINTAGE ROBE - EVA B VINTAGE
FAUX FUR SLIDES - STEVE MADDEN
EARRINGS - THRIFTED
SUNNIES - EVA B VINTAGE
NOTHING BUT NEON
VINTAGE BLACK BRIEFER BODYSUIT - RERUNS VINTAGE
NEON ORANGE FISHNETS - EVA B VINTAGE
NIKE SNEAKERS - FRIPERIE NF
SUNNIES - TIGER ALLEY CLOTHING
NEON ORANGE SATCHEL - STEVE MADDEN
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