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Alexander McQueen, a well-known British fashion designer once famously said:
“I think there is beauty in everything. What ‘normal’ people would perceive as ugly, I can usually see something of beauty in it”
McQueen certainly did not disappoint us with his powerful statements or indeed with his exquisite clothing! 11th February 2010 was the day that Alexander McQueen left behind a famous legacy. It is said that McQueen was “the most influential designer of his generation”. Regardless, of whether one wears the wool and cashmere blend varsity jacket or a skull leather belt from McQueen’s clothing range, there is indeed something for all men to wear. Men are beginning to be bold with their sense of style and men’s fashion is fast becoming a global talking point (Celletti, 2016). In the United States (U.S.) of America men’s fashion is growing rapidly. This is also a growing trend in other parts of the world. For example, in the United Kingdom (UK) men are now shopping more, in fact, twice a week and spending a £1000 on fashion each year (London, 2013).
There is a plethora of research that informs us that men actually spend more on clothes than women (Shepard, 2016; Howard, 2016). There are a number of reasons to why there has been such an increase in men spending more on clothes. One reason provided in literature is that the media has portrayed an image of what an ‘ideal’ man should look like which has led to more men being conscious of the way they look (Campbell, 2012)
There is no denying that men too have a pressure of having to look good. However, fashion is not just about being the best and looking the most beautiful. Men have to find inner contentment and be happy with who they are and it is indeed with growth in confidence that men will hopefully find their “inner self”.
There are a great number of things one can learn from fashion. For example, what colors not to match, what fashion disasters to void and learning what not to wear. However, one does occasionally have to stand out, be noticed and make an impression! One has to let one’s creativity and imagination enter the unknown, take risks and not be camouflaged in the background. Rather, one has to be free! After all, it was McQueen who said:
“Fashion should be a form of escapism, and not a form of imprisonment”
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References
Campbell, D (2012) Body image concerns more men than women, research finds. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2012/jan/06/body-image-concerns-men-more-than-women. [Accessed on: 02/07/2016].
Celletti, C (2016) The Present And Future Of Men’s Fashion. http://www.ogilvydo.com/news-views/the-present-and-future-of-mens-fashion/. [Accessed on: 05/07/2016].
Christine, K (2016). New Research Shows Men Are Spending More On Clothing Than Women.http://www.bsminfo.com/doc/new-research-shows-men-are-spending-more-on-clothing-than-women-0001. [Accessed on: 04/07/16].
Howland, D (2016) Men spend more money than women on clothing. http://www.retaildive.com/news/study-men-spend-more-money-than-women-on-clothing/414093/. [Accessed on: 04/07/2016].
London, B (2013. The rise of male shopaholic: men now shopping more than twice a week and spending a £1000 on fashion each year. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2449700/Men-shopping-twice-week-spending-1k-year-fashion.html. [Accessed on: 2/7/16].
Shepherd JE, (2016) Men Spend More Than Women on Clothes, Study Says. http://themuse.jezebel.com/men-spend-more-than-women-on-clothes-study-says-1757076920. [Accessed on: 05/07/2016].
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