Fashion has become a way through which women are representing what they feel. In particular, it allows women to express who they are and what they like, as well as their place in society. However, the fashion industry is notorious for its inability to accurately represent women of colour which sometimes restricts empowering women through fashion.
Fashion has also been seen as a way by which women have historically been dictated and oppressed by men. This is the result of the fashion industry’s long history of being exclusionary on multiple levels. If minor changes can be made in terms of fashion being made more inclusive and reflective of the diversity in women, there is no doubt that fashion will not only have a better reputation but will also be able to improve the lives of millions.
There are also certain notions attached to the way we dress up. Even if we dress up as per our comfort and what we like, our clothes reflect how we feel, like Blazers for #BossVibes and it shows that you can lead your team, step up when necessary, and take accountability for your actions. Women can now be seen dressing up more in the formal style for office work which in turn, helps them feel empowered.
The Bold Type, a drama series, inspired by the life of long time magazine editor and executive Joanna Coles, has become a much-talked-about show which deals with fashion and women’s empowerment. The representation of female characters is so inclusive that it includes women of colour, different body shapes, beliefs, religion, cultural background, etc. We haven’t had a show like this in so long and it’s a joy to have absolute new female role models to look forward to. Sutton Brady, portrayed by Meghann Fahy, is a Fashion Stylist who takes all the new challenges, comes rain or shine, and does a wonderful job on women empowerment in fashion. There’s always learning and a feeling of confidence when you watch this show.
Influencers like Komal Pandey & Kritika Khurana, are giving their twist to women’s fashion and have a genuine and loyal following on Instagram. Their followers love them not just for their sense of style but the authenticity that they’ve put in to make themselves into building a personal brand. Komal Pandey (@komalpandeyofficial) was awarded Cosmopolitan Best Fashion Influencer 20-21 while Kritika Khurana (@thatbohogirl), on the other hand, was awarded Cosmopolitan Lifestyle Influencer of the Year 20-21. These two have successfully interlinked fashion and women’s empowerment especially when we talk about Indian women.
Best friends Denise Mercedes and Maria Castellanos took their movement #StyleNotSize to the next level, promoting body positivity by wearing the same outfits in different sizes. Fashion has always played a crucial role in speaking up our opinion and the women of today are using it to their benefit to empower themselves.