diabola in musica

because perfection isn't easy

I admit: I am being immature. This morning, I had a very long discussion with family after someone discovered a picture of me in this corset on Facebook. The conversation was civil, but we simply couldn’t see eye-to-eye. (I don’t think we even agreed to disagree.) We are too stubborn, and have too differing views on sartorial choices and expressions of sexuality for women. Though the discussion ended politely, my feathers were still ruffled. So today, when I post this picture of myself in a corset, I am raising an eyebrow at my family. Who are they to say what I can and cannot show to the world? It is a bit immature. Among the points family made were that women’ shouldn’t be valued solely on looks and sexuality. I don’t disagree. The implication, however, is that there is something wrong with expressing sexuality, that any allusion would diminish whatever value in my intellect and creativity. Instead, I should express my mind, not my body. I disagree. I say that I should do both. There is nothing inherently wrong or inappropriate with celebrating beauty or sexuality. There is also nothing wrong with celebrating something awesome, like a mint green corset that looks great with an orange collar. What is wrong is overvaluing appearance and sexuality to the exclusion of other qualities. Sometimes I want to be recognized for my appearance. Other times I want to be recognized for my mind. I know I am so much more than one or the other. I am both. We can all be both. Every time I post a picture of myself in a corset, I an raising my eyebrow at the world. Zoom

I admit: I am being immature.

This morning, I had a very long discussion with family after someone discovered a picture of me in this corset on Facebook. The conversation was civil, but we simply couldn’t see eye-to-eye. (I don’t think we even agreed to disagree.) We are too stubborn, and have too differing views on sartorial choices and expressions of sexuality for women. Though the discussion ended politely, my feathers were still ruffled. So today, when I post this picture of myself in a corset, I am raising an eyebrow at my family. Who are they to say what I can and cannot show to the world?

It is a bit immature.

Among the points family made were that women’ shouldn’t be valued solely on looks and sexuality. I don’t disagree. The implication, however, is that there is something wrong with expressing sexuality, that any allusion would diminish whatever value in my intellect and creativity. Instead, I should express my mind, not my body. I disagree. I say that I should do both.

There is nothing inherently wrong or inappropriate with celebrating beauty or sexuality. There is also nothing wrong with celebrating something awesome, like a mint green corset that looks great with an orange collar. What is wrong is overvaluing appearance and sexuality to the exclusion of other qualities. Sometimes I want to be recognized for my appearance. Other times I want to be recognized for my mind. I know I am so much more than one or the other. I am both. We can all be both.

Every time I post a picture of myself in a corset, I an raising my eyebrow at the world.

Dress, No. 13, spring/summer 1999, Alexander McQueen What spoke to me most was McQueen’s unrelenting and passionate provocation. He loved the dramatic, the ecstatic experience of beauty. His work may be trim—an echo of his tailoring beginnings—but always, they were darkly erotic. McQueen’s romanticism was also paired with a keen awareness of the cinematic. This piece was not just a dress, but a performance where two industrial robots spray-painted the model. 

Dress, No. 13, spring/summer 1999, Alexander McQueen

What spoke to me most was McQueen’s unrelenting and passionate provocation. He loved the dramatic, the ecstatic experience of beauty. His work may be trim—an echo of his tailoring beginnings—but always, they were darkly erotic.

McQueen’s romanticism was also paired with a keen awareness of the cinematic. This piece was not just a dress, but a performance where two industrial robots spray-painted the model. 

I think there has to be an underlying sexuality. There has to be a perverseness to the clothes. There is a hidden agenda in the fragility of romance. It’s like the Story of O. I’m not big on women looking naïve. There has to be a sinister aspect, where it’s melancholy or sadomasochist. I think everyone has a deep sexuality, and sometimes it’s good to use a little of it—and sometimes a lot of it—like a masquerade.
I dropped by Comicazi last weekend to peek at the new monthlies, but what caught my eye was this hilarious shirt designed by Tak Toyoshima, creator of Secret Asian Man. The print is a laugh—or maybe a sneer—at the ineptly named Oriental-flavored ramen, and the inappropriate use of the word “Oriental” in reference to Asian people. So, yes, I am wearing this babydoll ironically, but somehow I think that is perfectly aligned with its original intent. Zoom

I dropped by Comicazi last weekend to peek at the new monthlies, but what caught my eye was this hilarious shirt designed by Tak Toyoshima, creator of Secret Asian Man. The print is a laugh—or maybe a sneer—at the ineptly named Oriental-flavored ramen, and the inappropriate use of the word “Oriental” in reference to Asian people.

So, yes, I am wearing this babydoll ironically, but somehow I think that is perfectly aligned with its original intent.