No matter how many times my boyfriend ridiculed my power shouldered blazer, insisting that shoulder pads should have stayed in the 80’s along with acid wash, I’d still wear it time and time again, attracting a multitude of compliments from my fellow companions with a double dose of the x chromosome. It didn’t even matter to me that he thought I looked hilarious, the comments from girls were enough to convince me that shoulder pads were to become a staple in my everyday wardrobe (albeit not forever). This brings us to the undeniable truth that women dress for women, not men. While the average male is attracted to a female wearing a short black dress, a huge amount of females are far more impressed when a woman decides to don a slightly more daring “fashion forward” outfit. The compliments that arise from this, in turn boost our self esteem.
But this can’t be the sole reason behind the phenomenon of women dressing for women. We see other females as competition, and as malicious as it sounds, we strive to outdo each other in anyway possible, be it with our expensive threads and apparel or our ability to adhere and keep up to date with current fashion trends- despite many of these fashion trends being highly offensive to good taste. Why else would someone spend upwards of one thousand dollars on a piece of cloth, if not to impress someone? I think it’s fair to say a considerable amount of males will not be able to distinguish between Wang & Witchery (that’s if they even know of either brand). However many females will ooh and aah over an expensive handbag as opposed to one of cheaper variety. It is fickle, it is shallow, but it is the reality.
Continuing on with the previous example of my boyfriend, when I bought a pair of “clogs”, my boyfriend alerted me to the fact that “Crocs” (a heinous plastic shoe) were actually a type of clog and I may as-well wear those. He then went on to say how laughable they were and that he didn’t approve. However, my clogs have received much deserved praise from the women I’m dressing for, so once again, my boyfriends opinion of them is redundant. My clogs will continue to be worn with pride.
After all, something tells me Marie Antoinette's elaborate hairdos, hats, and extreme corsets weren’t worn for the men in the Palace of Versailles.
