I had always been interested in fashions of the 1930s, 40s and 50s. They were bold, glamorous, and fun.
And in December 2014, I had decided that I would find a political purpose for them.
With the deaths of untold numbers of African Americans in the recent couple of years alone, America has been sliding backwards. And with the threat of a new fascist regime waiting to press its iron fist down on the United States, I felt I had to look the part. This isn't just a fashion statement. This is my protest against injustice, prejudice and the threat of dictatorship in the so-called "land of the free".
The truth was, the moment there was a Republican majority Senate elected, I gave up on America. The Ferguson protests made me realise that nothing had actually changed in the country. It was a peaceful protest, and they brought in armed police. All because they looked different from them. And now, the Conservatives are looking even more like the national socialists that had been our enemies in the Second World War.
I believe in the power of fashion to make political and social statements. We live in a society that judges us by our appearance. I'm proud to be from New York City, which at its best is diverse, creative and liberal, where you didn't get strange looks from people if you didn't look like them. I think it's a very progressive city.
I guess this look I'm going for is a way of looking different from everyone else and seeing how law enforcers react. They won't even know that I'm protesting against conservatism.
Still, if we don't move forward and make the world around us a more inclusive, tolerant, less violent place, we'd all be dressing like this.
So if you think this is also a good idea, I recommend wearing more vintage clothes. It's a lot of fun, I'll guarantee it.
Plus, I think we ought to humiliate the rest of America by going around in this stuff, if indeed it does ever become a fascist nation.
UPDATE: 2/08/07 It has become a fascist nation. We need more of this fashion.
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