It’s a new delight for me. I used to think fashion was frivolous, not anything (God help me!) serious people should care about.
Then I started watching Project Runway. And got hooked. Of all reality shows (at least in my experience), it’s the fairest. To viewers, I mean. You can see the fashions the contestants design, just as well as the judges on the show can. You can see who does well, and who does badly. You can develop your eye, as I did. You can learn to see how fashion can be art. You can hear the judges — expereinced fashion people, some of them top designers — talk about the work they’re seeing. You can see that their standards are high, and their judgment artistic.
And finally it came to me. Fashion can be exciting because it’s a place where art, commerce, craftsmanship, and sexuality all come together. Which, if you ask me, is hot. And (as I hardly need to say) that’s not a place where classical music very comfortably lives. Though why shouldn’t it? It certainly did in past centuries. Handel’s opera companies in London — artistic (just listen to the music), commercial to the hilt, and with a lot of sexual excitement about some of the singers (the prima donnas, and, inevitably, the castratos, who were infertile, but as sexually potent as any other man).
Why can’t classical music do that now?
You would very much like Virginia Postrel’s book “The Substance of Style” if you haven’t read it, and would probably also look forward to her upcoming book on Glamour.
That makes me so happy! The two things I love: fashion and classical music (I’m a classical pianist).
People take fashion for granted and don’t realize that it’s another form of visual art that you just happen to wear on your body. There is a lot of thought and inspiration behind fashion. Most classical musicians do not follow fashion, for a number of reasons. That sounds sort of presumptuous but just look at the number of responses to this post! Our inability to keep up with fashion reflects how we are unable to keep up with the times.
Greg, I don’t know if you saw this article, “Symphony in Black,” in the April issue of Esquire magazine (“Man At His Best”), but it highlights 12 men who are redefining classical music, and classical orchestra wear. You can view it online here: http://www.esquire.com/style/fashion-story/symphony-in-black
I thought it was sexy.
Yes but…
Fashion also leads to maxed-out credit cards, poor body image, and life-threatening eating disorders.
“…because it’s a place where art, commerce, craftsmanship, and sexuality all come together…”
nice shot!