FASHION & STYLE
One of the most influential people in the
fashion industry you’ve never heard of,
Diana Vreeland, revolutionized the way we
all interpret and consume fashion. Erika
Thomas, fashion marketing instructor at
The Art Institute of St. Louis, shares her own
experience with a perceived imperfection.
Barbra Streisand was featured on the cover of the March 1966
edition of V
ogue. Diana simply loved Barbra’s “Nefertiti” nose, as
she would call it. There were a number of profile pictures showing
every possible angle of her nose. Diana enjoyed focusing on women’s
features in this way and even exaggerating them to make these flaws
the most beautiful things about them. By doing so, she encouraged
women to make an asset of their faults until they no longer saw them
as imperfections but as “perfect” imperfections.
From my own experiences, as well as Diana’s, if you are tall, find the
highest pair of heels you can and strut proudly; if you have a gap in
your teeth, smile often; if you have a long neck, hold your head up as
high as you can; if you are full-figured, swing those hips from side to
side. Diana said it best when she remarked, “The idea is to not try to
fit into some mold, but to design yourself into an extraordinary piece
of art until every detail is perfect.”
SAVVY I SOPHISTICATED I SASSY