Is it Possible to Enjoy Fashion Blogging Without Apology?

On The Laundry Narrative, I find myself writing with heavy-handed defensive language when I discuss the enjoyment I receive from participating in fashion. I sometimes catch a hint of this in the writings of others. We stress that we like to be CREATIVE; that it's another FORM OF ART and a myriad of other justifications for why we do what we do. I know personally, it feels a lot like I'm convincing myself it's okay, like I'm apologizing to others for writing a vacuous, frivolous blog.

Fashion, and thus blogging about fashion, is often viewed as a superficial interest. It's interesting because it seems it's considered superficial more because it is considered a diversion for women and less because of what it is. It is frivolous because it is an area of interest for women in that the majority of fashion is created for women to wear, modeled by women and consumed by women. I asked my husband if he had any examples of masculine coded interests or activities that might be considered superficial. I couldn't really think of any myself, but I also don't have the perspective that he has. He mentioned maybe prowrestling or extensive car modifications. Of course, we both admitted that these were more marginal communities unlike the expectation for almost all women to be enthralled by fashion. Amanda Marcotte at Pandagon wrote a brilliant piece on shaming women for enjoying shopping. I encourage you to go read the whole thing, but what struck me the most was her discussion on the no-win position women have with fashion:

What’s depressing to me is that I have to justify this by necessity. That fashion is pleasurable for many women is why it’s considered “frivolous”, due to the long-standing cultural belief that if a woman is feeling pleasure, something must have gone wrong. So I look to the cultural pressure to look good to explain why women are stuck in this catch-22, where they’re supposed to shop and pull themselves together, but they’re shamed if they enjoy it. If there was nothing but pleasure and shame in it, a lot more women would give it up, I think. That women insist on taking pleasure in clothes shopping while being shamed over it is admirable. It’s not like the world’s greatest act of bravery to continue applying lipstick after a man snits at you that he prefers “natural” beauty, but it does take self-assurance. (Or, if you want to move up a level of bitch, echo Dolly Parton in “Steel Magnolias”: “There is no such thing as natural beauty.") I admire the courage of women who say no to beauty standards, but I also admire the women who decide to take audacious pleasure in femininity. Both are rejections of the restraints of femininity, one of the standards themselves, and one of the taboos against women showing their work or taking too much pleasure in it.

I don't want to be perceived as superficial, and so I struggle to reconcile my pleasure in style blogging with this desire to be considered intelligent and down-to-earth. If that weren't enough, my feminist beliefs prick me a little every time I write about the gratification I derive from my interest in dressing up. I have to constantly go through a series of statements in my head where I reason out that I'm NOT playing into the role already carved out by sexism, the role of being a pretty thing. I realize that my interest in style is very much a product of how I was molded as a little girl and as much as I would love to just chuck it all because HEY, I'M A FEMINIST...well, I really like to put on clothes that make me look good. That is why I'm glad Amanda points out in the comment above that it can be just as defiant to enjoy fashion without apology.

If all this weren't enough, I cringe at being judged as materialistic, a vapid consumer. I admit that blogging about personal style really does pull the string of desire for new pretty things, but I think there is much more going on in this community that shows it isn't about consuming. There are so many ways to remix what you already own and there are several bloggers out there doing that. A skirt becomes a dress, a sweater can be worn upside down to produce a drapey look, try turning your top around and wearing it backwards, and the list goes on. Remixes aren't the only ways bloggers are consuming less while still making fashion statements. There are quite a few online communities for cloth swapping, Wardrobe Swap Shop on Flickr and Rehash to name a few. When bloggers are tired of remixing the heck out of a blouse, they can pass it on to someone who can bring fresh life to it and in turn get a new, but also used, item to play with.

I think it can be easy to let the shame of fashion blogging creep in and steal the joy. I want to make a better effort to let go of the embarrassment (I know I'm not the only one who reluctantly admits they write a fashion blog to people outside of the blogosphere) and get back to what drew me to this community in the first place.

Do any of you have any of these feelings? Have you ever felt guilt in fashion blogging for any of these reasons? Or do you blog away without the pressure of what others might think?