by Bridget Webber

Created on: November 03, 2008   Last Updated: December 18, 2011

Exactly who can be classified as a fashion victim, and who is allowed to be singled out as having encapsulated the height of fashion, foxes me. On the one hand we have entrepreneurs like Viviene Westward, who are aging gracelessly, wearing bright colors and ill fitting clothes, with feathers and a variety of embellishments dangling off of them. On the other hand we have the average Joe in the street who tries wearing a bright red rain coat for a change as they feel a little daring. Oddly enough the person that the public seems to scoff at tends to be Joe rather than Viviene.

This strange phenomenon could bring me to my unfashionable knees if I dwelt upon its reasoning for too long, wondering why, if I decide to wear a plain tulip skirt, I get looks from passers by who are clearly judging my fashion sense. This wouldn't matter too much if we were not being bombarded by images of thin, tall, catwalk models, strutting their stuff looking like a field of daffodils that would break in the wind.

It would seem that the difference between Joe and Viviene, and between myself and a catwalk model, is that of kudos, confidence and reputation. That and quite a few pounds in monetary terms and in body weight. If you are known to be fashionable, people accept you as being so.

Therefore the Vivienes of this world can hobble along the pavement in high heels and a mini skirt, at the age of sixty three, and not be giggled at, whereas anyone else of that age who was worse for wear in the appearance department, would be the laughing stock of the street.

I can't help think though, that really we know better. I have hope that society understands that just because a designer has thrown together an ensemble that resembles a rubbish heap, that it's really not for wearing. Perhaps, deep down, the general public is aware that these creations are a transient form of art, that should be seen only on the television, or worn by celebrities posing for the amusement of a crowd.

Perhaps this is ultimately why we let each other know when we have crossed the fashion line into the realm of the victim. It is an unspoken rule that the rest of us don't join in with all of the silly shenanigans that involve dressing in odd garments that are impractical and uncomfortable, and which make us look like we got out of bed and forgot to take off the duvet.

Therefore, when Joe gets heckled for wearing chains from his shirt collar and spurs on his knee caps, it is because he isn't playing the game. Viviene can do it because she is already one of the players.

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