Even if the exhibit itself turns out to be thoughtful, all the hoopla surrounding the upcoming Met Ball (“fashion’s Oscars”) is anything but. In The New York Times, Eric Wilson reports that a lot of gala guests are having a hard time planning their outfits for the big event (because rich people don’t actually want to look like crusty gutter punks, go figure): “Gill Linton, the chief executive of the site, said she suspects most guests will end up playing it safe, as in safety pins as accessories.”
The problem is: safety pins were originally worn by punks in a utilitarian, non-decorative way — to hold tattered clothes together. Punks didn’t want to spend money on clothing, in part because they were broke, in part because they objected to the fashion industry on principle and didn’t want to feed it. Punk is anti-fashion at its core.
Look, I completely sympathize with anyone who wants to experiment with their look, express some hidden part of their personality, or just wear something fun — I just think that the best style is also substantive.
Image via Getty
