In reading this article on WWD (a free one) about CFDA award nominees and their photoshoot, I went scrambling to ensure what seemed to be was not - that there were no female designer nominees. Indeed there are women nominees for this year/2008's awards. See the list here.
Why was I concerned? A big huff has been made and praise given, for the designers (only mentioned [and possibly photographed] were Marc Jacobs, Jason Wu, and the Proenza Schouler guys ... wearing their own stuff. (Only a big deal if they're dudes.) Some drag, why yes, Jason Wu wore a green gown. The idea, to me, seems to be all about cross-dressing. (Let's ignore Marc Jacobs' hideous how-was-he-nominated mauled bunny ears .. thing.) But what about female designers? Wouldn't we wear our own goods all the darn time? It seems to be the ultimate dress-up. I imagine it, it's made (or in the beginning; I make it) and then I jaunt around town flaunting my personal wish.
Or is that me? Is it also my crazy brain assuming male designers are more recognized in some ways in the industry? And why is it that it seems so accepted a man - who even gay & fabulous actually might know less about a woman's body and maybe women themselves than straight dudes - designs at least as well as a woman? (I don't quite get how they can do handbags so well... it requires all the love, but they don't usually wear 'em, too? Torture!)
What is true here is that even if they photographed all the designer nominees, or at least one lone female among the listed four boys club, no woman is being promoted here in the released photos.
What gives? And isn't it even more insulting that a man wears a dress here and there are no women in their own sex's clothes? Couldn't this even send the messsage that *just stupid little girl* designers aren't even up to snuff, or barely exist? I don't know, it rubs me entirely wrong.
But possibly not as much as Marc Jacobs' head-piece.
*Update* It's time for more androgeny by Karl Lagerfeld on Fashionologie.
Ella M.
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