Fashion commands spontaneous response and imitation from the people. Fashion is undergoing constant changes so also our life style for better or for worse. These days people are after glamour believing that glamour is happiness. There is nothing wrong in looking good. But people want their image appreciated too to feed their ego. Glamour is of great appeal and thus fashion market is booming.
Curves are back and now being seen. Their gorgeous looks sweep you off your feet. No wonder, these curves attract all attention - both male and female. Even those who are otherwise learned have fallen prey to such sheer show and fantasy and fail to discriminate between the grain and the chaff. Fashion producers are cultivating the weakness of women rather than their strength and to make them attractive rather than self reliant. Their sensibilities are developed at the cost of their health as well as mind and is burdened with a dream that they may be chosen.
We are aping the western fashion. Western fashions are designed for European stock and not for Asian races. Dresses are normally designed based on racial characteristics, physique, colour of the skin, climatic conditions, etc. The garment that suits the European races living in cold climate may not be suitable for Asiatic races living in hot tropical climate.
When we copy other peoples’ fashion, we cannot reproduce their charisma, talent or success. Externally we can imitate their life style but this does not bring us to fulfillment. This is how we lose our culture and arts and fail to create our own image and creativity. It is just like standing before a mirror. The mirror reflects our outward appearance only. The best imitated dress does not reflect your inner self. It may end up simply as outward good looks just to attract some pleasing glances. The fountain of beauty must therefore, be in the heart more than in the eye otherwise it will turn merely as sensuous.
I am not against wearing Jeans. It makes the wearer look attractive and smart but to achieve this the wearer must have a proportionate figure otherwise the best Jeans over a skinny and lanky body will give an awkward look. It is not meant for everybody. But the market is flooded with Jeans of every shape and sizes of both local and foreign make. As even the finest landscape seen daily become monotonous, so does the fashion of today become very common tomorrow. The world of fashion is running on this illusion. This makes our life a mess.
Presently, skin tight garments are very popular all over the world. Years of medical study and research in USA and Russia have established a very disturbing finding on the wearers of tight garments. Skin tight garments, as reported, are unhygienic and harmful. In young men tight pants, underwear, briefs especially the warm fabrics are extremely harmful. All these leads to fertility problems. It is advised medically that inner garments should be loosely fitted. In women tight garments with high heel shoes displaces the reproductive organs and the stress over them causing sterility. Moreover, the stress on the hips will lead to medical problems in the long run. Tight inner wear effect important glands of the body by suppressing the body tissue and flow of nutrition to the required glands.
Medical findings also say that skin tight garments causes skin diseases like eczema, psoriasis, itching, skin cancer, etc. It is the findings of the researchers that Jeans particularly cannot be washed properly. It does not absorb moisture. It is not porous. It retains inside moisture and heat so harmful to every part that it covers. Similar harm comes even from the synthetic and stretchable garments. These are some of the established health hazards that we get out of our so called outlandish fashion that we follow.
Fashion designers are regularly showcasing their creations. On the glittering ramp regal looking models glide by sheathed in transparent trousers, cotton tunics and layered dresses. But despite their colourful swing on the ramp their faces are rubbed clean of any expression. The inevitable question surfaces – what goes through the minds of these models? It takes a lot of time and money to maintain the life style of these models. They have to look perfect, be seen in the right clothes, shoes, accessories and make-up in order to get noticed otherwise they may not get the next assignment. Many of them are from schools and colleges. Hence they are drop-outs without proper qualifications.They live from one day to the next and the glamour will last only till their looks last. It is a short life. The garments displayed by these models are religiously imitated by people and are seduced by manifold temptations of what is called civilized culture. We cannot help imitating what we see and begin to mould our character for good or for worse. The lure of fashion can do or undo our confidence. Believe it or not the most awful legs mercifully hidden under yards of lace and silk can keep the wolf away and help you to sail confidently into the street. So do try the friendly trappings that will not let you down.
In India, the devotees both young and old never attend worship places, churches, temples or mosques in skin tight and revealing garments. One can find worshippers clothed in reverence and in humble appropriate dresses and comfortable trousers which are aesthetically best. Inner beauty should be our fashion. One can find divinity within. But when you do not embrace a dirty beggar’s child but embrace a dirty child of yours you only see but does not have a divine compassion in you.
Therefore, while graceful fashion makes life pleasant and beautiful it must not be at the expense of honesty, health and mind. Good fashion is a true economist. It gives refinement and grace. A good taste over fashion will adorn even the lowliest lot and can earn respectability in the society.
Mapu Jamir I.A.S. (Retd.), Dimapur
