High School Never Ends
By Alexis J. February 11, 2010
Those of you who are in high school, like me, I am sure can’t wait to get out. And those of you who are not in high school anymore, well, I’m sure you’re wondering why it feels like you’re still stuck in it even though you left a zillion years back. As Bowling for Soup once said, and I quote,
“Then When you graduate,
Ya take a look around and you say “Hey Wait!”
This is the same as where I just came from,
I thought it was over, Aw that’s just great.”
Come to think of it, high school and the fashion industry aren’t all that different. How, you ask? Bowling for Soup lends a few words of wisdom that seem to fit the bill in this case:
“The Whole Damn World is just as obsessed
With who‘s the best dressed and who’s having sex
Who‘s got the money, Who gets the honeys
Who‘s kinda cute and who‘s just a mess.
And you still don’t have the right look
And you don’t have the right friends
Nothing changes but the faces, the names, and the trends”
Their song was about high school but it does sound an awful lot like the fashion industry, doesn’t it? So here’s a look at the fashion industry equivalent of high school stereotypes.
THE School
There are many high schools, public and private, but there will always be that one school that every kid wants to go to. That one school that not only promises great academic development but also a whole lot of fun for the spoilt preppy kids who need a break from all the excruciatingly painful spa days and shopping sprees. And there will always be that one magazine that fulfills our hunger for all things fashion. And which magazine might that be? Vogue, of course. Sure, we all love ELLE and Grazia and Harper’s Bazaar but the first word that comes to mind when one says “fashion” is undoubtedly “Vogue.” And not just any Vogue, no. American Vogue. And while people often argue that American Vogue is a tad too Hollywood-centric for true fashion lovers, there is no denying that it sits right there at the top of the industry smirking down at all the other magazines daring them to try and set foot in its territory. And most people/magazines have no problem complying.
The Star Quarterback
While there is no definite he-diva in the industry, I would like to split this title between the beloved André Leon Talley and the infamous Karl Lagerfeld. Think of André L. T. and the words ”You know what? Its a famine of beauty. Its a famine of beauty, honey!” come to mind. Yes, the very man who at 6’6″ towers above every model and even at 60-something is as energetic and sprightly as a 16 year old. Known for his quirky sense of style and the ability to carry of anything he wants from a huge cape to a well-fitted suit, his diva-esque attitude fits the bill. And while people may say that Karl Lagerfeld is the undisputed King of Fashion, I believe that Mr. Leon Talley is a star in his own right. Designer for his own label as well as icon label Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld is indeed a genius. His cutting edge designs have captivated the industry and he truly one of the most respected and world-renowned designers of all time. Known for often saying out loud risque things that most people wouldn’t dream of even thinking, – “What I hate most in life are people who are not really the peach of the day but who want to be young and sexy. You can fool nobody. There is a moment when you have to accept that somebody else is younger and fresher and hotter. Life is not a beauty contest.” - Mr. Lagerfeld is a man who doesn’t care what people think of him because he knows that nothing can change the fact that he his by far and away, the most talented designer out there.
The Head Cheerleader
Photo - Wikimedia Commons
Very blonde, very skinny, very mind-bogglingly gorgeous, and often, very bitchy. The head cheerleader, more often than not, runs the school. Sound a lot like someone in the fashion industry? Yes, the reigning queen of the industry, Ms Anna Wintour. Her name itself sends many-an-interns and editors into a fine frenzy. A constant in the front row of every fashion show that is even remotely important, Ms. Wintour does indeed call the shots in this industry. She decides what is in, she decides what is out. If she says a piece should not be in a show, there is no chance in hell that you’ll ever see that ensemble walking down a catwalk. No, the fact that is was handcrafted with pure gold thread by Paris’s finest does not matter. Ever aspiring editor wants to be her and every aspiring designers wants to be liked by her. And if you have watched The September Issue, you know that if looks could kill, Anna Wintour would be the worlds finest and most fashionable killing machine.
The Jocks a.k.a The Popular Guys
They’re may not rule the school, but jocks have a pretty important role in the high school food-chain. They’re the guys that every nerd wants to do homework for. They’re the guys that every girl wants to date. And they’re the guys that ever stuck up teacher hates. Who features in this list? Dan & Dean Caten, Phillip Bloch, Miss. J. Alexander, Tom Ford, Alber Elbaz – if they’re famous, if everyone wants to wear them or be styled by them and if they are fashion icons in their own sense, you can be sure that they’re part of this uber cool group.
The Cheerleaders a.k.a The Popular Girls
Hair twirling, short skirts, surrounded by boys – a few traits common to all of the popular girls at high school. But things are a tad different in the fashion industry. You don’t become one of the popular girls by reducing the length of you skirt and popping bubblegum 24/7. No, sirree. You have to be a diva; minus the diva fits. You have to dress so fabulously or dress your clients so fabulously that everyone who looks at you or your clients is left slacked jawed and glassy eyed. Or you have to design clothes so gorgeous that every woman, and man, bows down the minute they set their eyes on you. Rachel Zoe, Anna Dello Russo, Kelly Cutrone, Vivienne Westwood, Stella McCartney – this list is one of the slightly longer ones but getting in is not half as easy as it seems.
The WannaBe-s
This list, unlike the others, is not very hard to get into. This is where the likes of me fit in. The aspiring designers, the aspiring editors, the aspiring merchandisers – anyone and everyone who wants a future in the fashion industry fits just in. And while the cut-off isn’t too demanding, a few basics are necessary. You should know how to dress well/design well/write well and if you can do any of that, welcome aboard! Waxing eloquqent will give you brownie points though.
So there you go, a prime example of how, unfortunately, High School Never Ends.
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Submitted on February 11, 2010 in Industry News.
Extremely passionate about fashion, Alexis Jefferson is a style and fashion writer who lives, eats and breathes fashion. Obsessed with shoes, this aspiring Carine Roitfeld writes for several online publications and websites - Haute Mimi International, Liberating Style Magazine, Glossy Magazine etc. - as well as her own blog Candid Couture - http://www.candid-couture.com/
Alexis J. has contributed 29 articles to Models & Moguls.
