First, I really liked Rae’s response. Very thoughtful and insightful.
When we say slobs,
what do we really mean? This is a derogatory term, clearly, so it means the
author doesn’t like the way certain people dress and are deriding them for it.
Some brief thoughts:
1.
Fashion, and having both the time and income to
care about it, is a privilege. Not one all are afforded.
2. Much of the clothing choices being derided are
affordable and comfortable. Why do we
discount comfort so quickly? Must we be uncomfortable to be fashionable? What
if the fashion industry worked to make dress trousers as comfortable and
affordable as yoga pants? What if we decided collectively, as a culture, that high heels are unattractive based on what they do to your feet, knees and back?
3. We are a time strapped culture. How many women
work today? We don’t have the same family networks to help with things as other
cultures where women work.
4. Looking the appropriate way for the fashion world
to cater to you is also a privilege. The
average American woman is a size 14. That means she is plus size in many brands
and simple does not have the same choices.
I also wonder how much of the casualization of our culture
is the constant media stream telling you that you must look a certain way to be
beautiful. If you are not young, white, and thin you cannot possibly be
pretty. Makes me wonder how many people
simply say “nope, not me” and don’t bother.
