Reflection: Week 6

   For this blog post, I would just want to personally thank God again for putting me in the right course hehe. I've done this several times after I've spent time attending my major subjects and working on the course requirements. This week, I realized another sign that showed me why Clothing Technology was the right program for me. It's kind of a shallow reason actually. It's the fact that our subjects require us to have our individual croquis books. Croquis is a French word for sketch. Basically, this notebook should be treated like our portable scratch paper, where we could jot down, draw, paint or record our ideas and inspirations. I saw this as a sign because that is how I work as a person. I've always seen myself as creative and I've trained myself to generate several ideas and never limit myself when it comes to brainstorming. I've been collecting notebooks for as long as I could remember, and probably it's because of the fact that I like recording/documenting my experiences and ideas and that nostalgic feeling you get when you open a notebook you haven't touched in years. I've always had that one notebook I would carry anywhere in case I get bored or a source of inspiration would pop-up but I never knew it could be called a croquis book. Our prof also told us that in fashion schools abroad, they really value the designer's croquis book because it is there wherein you'll see the authenticity and the development of the design. 
   
   At first, I wasn't as comfortable in freely writing things on my croquis maybe because most of the stuff we'd put in it were required by our profs and would also be checked by our profs. When I nosily looked into everyone else's croquis, I got a bit jealous of how they were filled with doodles drawn during boring classes or just documenting what inspired them. Then I decided to treat my croquis just as how I've treated my treasured notebooks. 

   I've discovered that I'm the kind of person who takes note of every detail possible and who respects even the smallest ideas. The croquis caters to the way I work as a designer and a creative mind. For all of you out there who believe they have great ideas or are just inspired to do a lot of things, I recommend get a croquis of your own :-)

Reflection: Week 5

   A question was raised up this week that really struck me. We were shown a video (The Problem with Jeggings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPJz850ibII) that depicted how different trends were emerging by combining different articles of clothing (jeggings = jeans + leggings, nirt = not a shirt) and also how as the years go by, so do the fabric in the clothes we wear (less coverage, more skin). Then our professor showed us a painting (the title of which, I forgot) and asked us to relate it to the video. I inferred that both the painting and the video showed how different people have different perspectives on what is acceptable or decent; how normal is really something subjective. Then she flashed the question: What is normal?

   The question of what sets the difference between normal and abnormal has come across my mind plenty of times in my life. I'm the kind of person who really spends time to think and reflect not just about my personal life but even the external factors that affect it. During those times, I've questioned what is normal for the society we live in today. Because if you look at it, the standards of normal have changed through out the years. Take for example, in the 1800s, women and men wear layers and layers of clothing, complete suits and afternoon and evening dresses; but if you're out wearing those today, people will think that you're trying too hard to look good or that you're wearing some sort of costume. Another is that years ago, men found women more attractive if they were curvy and voluptuous contrasting to how the standard for women today is slim and athletic. I've thought that maybe the notion of normal is something psychological. Imagine teaching your child that saying "yes" means no and saying "no" means yes and he'd grow up believing what you've taught him and for him that'll probably be normal. Things we consider normal nowadays are things that have undergone the approval of the general society and have lived through the first degree of questioning and scrutinizing. 

   I've read a book back in grade school entitled "Frindle" by Andrew Clements and if I remember correctly, it was about how a boy was so persistent in renaming the ballpen into the word frindle and at the end he succeeded and the word was even recognized in the dictionary. I often think that normality could be analogous to that; like if I would want something to be socially acceptable, all I'd have to do is convince a number of people to believe in it as well. Just like how we've gotten accustomed to more revealing outfits as daily/casual wear as opposed to how they used to be frowned upon by society. 

   This gets me thinking, what else would be considered normal in the future; and in following the logic, would there be more good normal or bad normal? 

Dolce & Gabanna (a pecha kucha)

Greetings! By now, after already posting two of them, I hope you already know and  understand what a pecha kucha is. Here's another one that I mentioned in my previous entry. The pecha kucha is a presentation on a chosen designer (in my case, designers) and their design philosophy. I suggest you read the previous post for you to better understand the presentation. Enjoy! :-)

Reflection: Week 4

Our class discussion this week tackled different kinds of fashion designers and their respective design philosophies. As I have mentioned before, I still have not found a designer whom I could call a personal favorite, but for this activity (which also required us to dress-up) I chose the classic Domenico Dolce & Stefano Gabanna.  As a child, Dolce & Gabanna was one of the luxury brands I knew that was a must-have for any fashion-conscious adult may it be a male or female. This is probably because the brand caters to both genders through the clothes and perfumes they design. Taking from that, I began to appreciate the designers knowing that they have created what I have always dreamed to have, an entire fashion empire. D&G (as you would see in the pecha kucha I will post after this entry) has most likely tackled every aspect of the clothing industry: clothes (for different markets), shoes, fragrances, hair products, beauty products, nail lacquer, and lately even gadgets.

The design philosophy I found that they go by is a mix of feminism and the idea of being different but preserving the balance of things. This design philosophy, I realized, is something that I would want to take after (but of course use it as an inspiration in forming my own). I’ve always been such a strong believer of feminism and how a woman’s body is a glorious creation of God and should be treated as such. One could also see in my personal style that I like standing-out and making a statement or expressing myself with whatever I wear; but I also believe that in dressing well, one must know how and when to dress accordingly/appropriately. After really researching about these two designers and getting to know more about themselves and their design aesthetic, I realized that they are officially part of my list (yes I know it’ll be a list) of favorite designers. Dolce and Gabanna have inspired me and reaffirmed me that no dream is too big for a creative mind and a passionate heart.

How and Why People Wear Clothes (a pecha kucha)

Hello I am back with another pecha kucha! This time, it's just half a pecha kucha (10 slides but 20 secs each) and it'll be presenting how and why I think people of the twenty-first century dress in such a way. This was based on the book full of photographs by Hans Eijkelboom entitled "People of the Twnty-First Century"

Reflection: Week 3

   This week all of the groups were assigned to read an article of and report it to the class. Our group was assigned to “The Burqa in Vogue: Fashioning Afghanistan” by Ellen McLarney (a long but really good read). The other articles tackled global fashion issues. Basically one thing I learned was that fashion and clothing plays a huge role in cultural diffusion. It was evident in the articles that either different cultures tried to influence or be influenced by others or refused to let anything in or out of their culture. Other cultures took up trends and clothing from others and vice versa. Clothing could serve as a tool to lead or follow, to be dominant or inferior. 
   What I've already learned only stands as proof that the fashion world/industry is vast in itself. That's something that most people don't see that's why they always tend to belittle people of our industry. They think that it's hard to earn money in such a field but more than the money (which you could definitely earn loads of) they fail to see its cultural and societal relevance. That it's inevitably part of the system of our world and can meaningfully contribute to it. It's articles and issues like these that push me to make an effort in educating the rest of the world about what we do and the importance of it. 

Reflection: Week 2

   This week we had a long discussion and really chewed into the topic of clothing motivations. If you were able to watch my short pecha kucha about my personal clothing motivations, you'd notice that one of the things that affects the my choice of clothing is the fact that I belong to a Catholic Charismatic community. Belonging to a religious community also means that you have to conform to its way of life. I have nothing against the our way of life, in fact I embrace it and really appreciate it. What I have been struggling with though is the compromise between being modest and being able to express myself through the clothes I wear. I do understand that there are parts of the body one should cover, that showing flesh could "provoke" the opposite sex, that keeping your body to yourself could be "more attractive", and that you should also honor your body. What still baffles me is that they believe tht if you got it, it's better not to flaunt it. I mean, showing a little skin is how I could feel beautiful in, I personally feel honored when I look good in what I am wearing whether I'm covered up entirely or exposing my parts of my legs, arms, and back. I want to be able to dress modestly and please others by it, but sometimes, it's myself that I don't get to please anymore (which forgive me but I think is more important). 

   I'm the kind of person who believes that the only ones I have to please are God, my parents and myself. My dad also has a keen sense of style and is also very open-minded. He doesn't mind it if I wear clothes that reveal a little skin as long as it isn't over-the-top. I am also very responsible when it comes to dressing in a way that my parents want me to, so I know what's a yes and what's a no when it comes to their opinion. It just saddens me that I have to limit my clothing preferences because people from community might correct me. 

   I really want to talk more about this dilemma of mine in the future so stay tuned haha. But again as of now, I still think that the line between modesty and immodesty is quite blurred and I am bound by it. The issue between the balance of modesty and still looking and feeling beautiful is something I would like to resolve as I go through my years in CT. 

Designer Inspiration: Giambatisttista Valli

     I feel that I am not yet fully educated about the design world and its gatekeepers (designers), so I still can't really pick my favorite designer also because I don't just have one. For this blog post, we were asked to talk about our favorite designer's design inspiration. For the post's sake, I chose Giambattista Valli. 

Giambattista Valli is a French designer who was raised in Italy but is now based in Paris, France. He is one of the designers I admire, because I gravitate towards his design aesthetic. The things I imagine during my past time, day dreaming and envisioning how I would like my designs to look like, he has already brought to life. His designs are something that a majority of the fashion industry really agree to and applaud but at the same time you can distinctly tell that it was designed by him. He incorporates elaborateness, volume, color, eccentricity, and femininity into his designs - something I would like to adapt as a future designer. What really caught my attention was how he executed his shows. From the hair and makeup to the ensemble itself, the shoes and the entire production of the show; everything is spotless and well thought of.

After browsing a few articles about this fashion genius, I've learned that many things contribute to his inspiration when designing. As a kid, his television was black and white and his hobby was to draw the actors and guess/imagine the colors of the clothes they were wearing. At an early age, he would copy the design sketches of Yves Saint Lauren and it was through it that he realized that the silhouette used by the designer could help determine his/her identity. He is very fond of reading books especially ones that contain photographs of celebrities and models with beautiful clothes. He has worked for several brands before establishing his own. "Valli’s muse revolves around curiosity, however inspirations that come to him are closely tied to women’s allure – imaginary or real – from Little Red Riding Hood to Peggy Guggenheim." (http://www.famousfashiondesigners.org/giambattista-valli). He believes that a woman's body should definitely be celebrated and this inspires his material preferences and craftsmanship. All in all, Giambattista Valli allows to be inspired by a lot of things and is able to then integrate these into his creations effortlessly. 

Sources:

[Photograph of Giambattista Valli]. Retrieved September 13, 2015 from: http://news.nationalpost.com/life/style/small-talk-paris-haute-couture-at-dior-giambattista-valli

[Photograph of Giambattista Valli]. Retrieved September 13, 2015 from:http://champagnemacaronsblog.com/fashion-inspiration-giambattista-valli-couture-spring-2015/

[Photograph of Giambattista Valli]. Retrieved September 13, 2015 from: http://www.famousfashiondesigners.org/giambattista-valli

[Photograph of Giambattista Valli]. Retrieved September 13, 2015 from: http://www.fashionmodeldirectory.com/designers/giambattista-valli/

Giambattista Valli. (n.d.). Retrieved September 13, 2015 from: http://www.famousfashiondesigners.org/giambattista-valli

My Clothing Motivations (a pecha kucha)

    As a fashion student, I believe it is important to know what motivates you to dress-up everyday. At par with this, we were asked to make a pecha kucha showing the different factors of our clothing motivations. A pecha kucha is a presentation wherein you're given 20 slides and 20 seconds to discuss each slide. We presented our pecha kuchas to our group mates in class but I have uploaded it here for documentation. For viewing purposes, I made the slides to last only five seconds. Press play and get to know what motivates me to pick my outfit for the day.

Reflection: Week 1

    The first thing Ms. Kitty asked us when we were just applying to shift to CT is something that went along the lines of, do you really know what you're getting into? At that time, I applied for the program with a mind set on being a renowned Filipino designer both nationally and internationally. Of course I also wanted to be able to give back to the country by imparting the CT knowledge I have yet to learn to the future of Clothing Technology. But it wasn't until our first class with Ms. Kitty that I realized, there really is more to being a clothing technologist. Being in the fashion industry isn't all glitz and glam. I knew this even before entering the program, but what I didn't know was how it was such a big part of our lives and and that there's a lot to be done in the national scale of the industry. 

    I understood that people's lives depend on the industry (from factory workers to high earning authorities) and if not given much attention to, could lead to tragic accidents/calamities. A lot of clothing manufacturing factories who recklessly continue labor despite the buildings hazardous conditions have cost the lives of many employees and the livelihood of their families. I also saw how the textile and garment industry in the country has so much potential. This is what actually struck me the most, that the richness of our country's resources is only put to waste with its improper allocation when it could have been used in the expansion and development of the industry. My dream for the Philippines is for its garment and textile industry to be able to provide a complete process in clothing production; from the very start (harvesting and processing of the fibers) up until the product is marketed and sold in the stores. In this way, we would be able to promote the production capability of our country, local products, while providing more job opportunities for our countrymen. 

   It was amazing to realize that in a span of one meeting, Ms. Kitty was able to switch our dreams and motives as clothing technology students from being a bit self-centered to putting into consideration the needs of the industry and the people we will affect. 

What Does UP ERG Wear?

 

For an optional assignment for CT 11, we were tasked to observe and interview a certain cultural group and see if they do dress a certain (common) way. For this project, I chose an organization from the EEEI (Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute) in the University of the Philippines. UP ERG (University of the Philippines Engineering Radio Guild) is very close to my heart because I'm still a member even now that I've shifted to CT. I passed out a survey to 62 respondents and personally interviewed 5 of the members from UP ERG. Read on to find out if and how UP ERG dresses up similarly.

NATHALIE SUCGANG 

4th year BS Computer Engineering student

What do you usually wear to school? T-shirt, pants or shorts, Converse sneakers What do you think a typical EEE student wears to school? T-shirt, pants, shoes or slippers
What do you consider when picking the clothes you'll wear for the day? Color (light colored clothing if it's hot outside, warm/dark colors if it's cold), Pants if classes are in EEE (cold classrooms) What is a "fashionable" outfit for you? Skirt and a blouse to match Do you believe that a certain group of people dress in a specific way? Yes, colleges like Business Administration and Economics are more well-dressed compared to UP Engineering students. UP students could also be easily distinguished in a crowd based on their clothing and behavior. Do you think that the people around you affect the way you dress? Medyo, kapag high school friends ang kasama ko, mas pormado ako.

* * *

LOUIE TANAKA 
3rd year BS Electrical Engineering student

What do you usually wear to school? Shorts, T-shirt, loafers
What do you think a typical EEE student wears to school? Pants, sneakers, T-shirt
What do you consider when picking the clothes you'll wear for the day? If it looks nice, if it's comfy, appropriateness for school and the activities for the day (when there's lab, I wear pants)
What is a "fashionable" outfit for you? Collared shirt, pants, leather shoes
Do you believe that a certain group of people dress in a specific way? Yes, because of the existence of stereotypes. Students from the college of Business Administration are more pormado
Do you think that the people around you affect the way you dress? Yeah, if people around me wear fashionable clothes I have to be able to keep up

* * *

JUDE LLANA 

2nd year BS Electronics & Communication Engineering student

What do you usually wear to school? Shorts, T-shirt, tsinelas (slipper), or pambahay (clothes you wear at home)
What do you think a typical EEE student wears to school? T-shirt, pants, Vans
What do you consider when picking the clothes you'll wear for the day? Kung 'di mainit at comportable
What is a "fashionable" outfit for you? "Mayaman" o maganda sapatos, polo shirt, boat shoes, Roches o Air Max (Nike)
Do you believe that a certain group of people dress in a specific way? No
Do you think that the people around you affect the way you dress? Yes, kung ano yung uso, doon din susunod

* * *

CASHMERE RAMOS

2nd year BS Electronics & Communication Engineering student

What do you usually wear to school? Skirt, I seldom wear shirts, any top that matches my bottom

What do you think a typical EEE student wears to school? "Halatang stressed" T-shirt, pants, sometimes shorts, slippers or sneakers
What do you consider when picking the clothes you'll wear for the day? Activities for the day, my schedule (if I'll be having lab), I commute so it also depends on what time I'll be going home (safety concerns)
What is a "fashionable" outfit for you? Most comfortable in skirt and heels and top
Do you believe that a certain group of people dress in a specific way? Yes, they do similar things and sometimes at the same time

Do you think that the people around you affect the way you dress? Yes, because sometimes they're the ones who tell you what's right and wrong (in terms of what to wear)

* * *

NYLE CAULI

3rd year BS Computer Engineering student

What do you usually wear to school? Shorts, T-shirt, shoes (plimsolls/Vans) What do you think a typical EEE student wears to school? Slippers, shorts, and T-shirt
What do you consider when picking the clothes you'll wear for the day? When I last wore the piece of clothing and the weather
What is a "fashionable" outfit for you? Neat-looking, if the is fit right, a timeless look, long sleeves polo (folded 3/4), casual pants, matching shoes
Do you believe that a certain group of people dress in a specific way? Yes, maybe because they consider each other's style and the similarities of their activities
Do you think that the people around you affect the way you dress? Yes, because gauge how you should dress with the people around you

* * *

The following are the results of the 62 respondents I surveyed

Based on the results of my research limited by 67 respondents, we can say that the members of UP ERG are comfortable coming to school in a T-shrt, jeans, and sneakers. They favor the comfortableness of the outfit they're going to be wearing and also consider the climate outside and the activities they have lined up for that particular day. They themselves have confirmed our hypothesis of a certain cultural group noticeably dresses up in a similar manner. They've noticed that they tend to dress like one another and that their cumulative style could be considered as the EEE organization's identity.

Inspired by Designers

 Here, in no particualr order, are the international and local fashion designers who have inspired me to find my own design philosophy and aesthetic.

I N T E R N A T I O N A L  D E S I G N E R S

Christian Dior

Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana

Karl Lagerfeld

Valentino

Zuhair Murad

F I L I P I N O  D E S I G N E R S

Dubai-based Filipino designer. Michael Cinco

Filipino designer, Francis Libiran

Filipino designer, Boom Sason

Filipino designer, Rajo Laurel

Filipino designer, Mich Dulce

Sources:

[Photograph of Francis Libiran]. Retrieved August 29. 2015 from: http://www.bellanaija.com/2013/05/08/bn-bridal-new-designer-alert-francis-libiran/
[Photograph of Rajo Laurel]. Retrieved August 29. 2015 from: http://www.rajolaurel.com/blog/?p=32989
[Photograph of Mich Dulce]. Retrieved August 29. 2015 from: http://itscamilleco.com/2011/05/unicef-x-mich-dulce-2/
[Photograph of Boom Sason]. Retrieved August 29. 2015 from: http://beekyoote.blogspot.com/2014/09/fashion-fridays-weekly-style.html
[Photograph of Michael Cinco]. Retrieved August 29. 2015 from: http://host.missosology.info/~missyorg/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=517518
[Photograph of Zuhair Murad]. Retrieved August 29. 2015 from: http://www.thefashionspot.com/runway-news/406171-21-questions-with-zuhair-murad/

[Photograph of Christian Dior]. Retrieved August 29. 2015 from: http://chicsstyle.com/christian-dior-designer-fashion-house/

[Photograph of Valentino]. Retrieved August 29. 2015 from: http://worldbridemagazine.com/9166/top-10-european-fashion-designers/

[Photograph of Dolce and Gabbana]. Retrieved August 29. 2015 from: http://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2015/03/14663/

[Photograph of Karl Lagerfeld]. Retrieved August 29. 2015 from: http://www.timeout.com/london/shopping/karl-lagerfeld-interview-i-dont-take-myself-very-seriously

Street Style: The Filipino Consumers' Clothing Preference

R E I N I  E V A N G E L I S T A
2nd year BS Economics Student from UP Diliman

What do you look for when purchasing clothing? 
Her mom and sister are usually the ones picking out her clothes, so she leaves the design aspect to them. What she really considers is the comfort that the clothing provides. Reini also prefers clothing that have the right fit for her body. Lastly, she isn't brand-conscious.

How much are you willing to spend when you shop for clothes?
Php 600 - Php 1,000





R A P  O R O N C E
3rd year BS Business Administration student from UP Diliman

What do you look for when purchasing clothing?
Rap is particular with the clothing's design aesthetic. He purchases clothes which compliment his personal style. He also considers the practicality of the clothes he's about to buy, whether or not he'd be able to use it. 

How much are you willing to spend when you shop for clothes?
He is willing to spend money for clothes as long as the clothing's quality and design compensates its monetary value. For Rap, a decent shirt should cost up to Php 500 only.

B E L L A  Y A P C H I O N G C O

2nd year BS Psychology student from UP Diliman

What do you look for when purchasing clothing?

Bella has a petite stature and so she is really particular with looking for clothes that would fit her size perfectly. She also takes into consideration the comfortableness of the clothing she is about to purchase.

How much are you willing to spend when you shop for clothes?

The most expensive piece of clothing she is willing to buy should cost Php 1,500 at the most.

M I C O  S A N T O S

2nd year BS Industrial Engineering student from UP Diliman

What do you look for when purchasing clothing?

He prefers to check if the clothes fit him well first and then he'd consider purchasing them. He also has to consider if the clothing is sold at a practical price.

How much are you willing to spend when you shop for clothes?

For Mico, a decent shirt would cost Php 500; but he is willing to spend Php 5,000 when shopping for an entire outfit.

E N Z O  R I Z O
2nd year BS Business Administration student from UP Diliman

What do you look for when purchasing clothing?
Enzo looks at three things when buying his clothes. He makes sure that the design of the clothes fits his taste/style. Next he checks for comfort. And third, he considers the price of his next purchase. 

How much are you willing to spend when you shop for clothes?
He takes Php 1,000 with him when he goes shopping for a complete look and believes that a decent shirt should cost Php 400.

  After seeing the choices of Filipino students when it comes to purchasing the clothes they want and need, allow me to show you my observation regarding what affects the decision of the Filipino masses when picking out the clothes they are to buy. I was tasked to observe the population that attends Sunday mass (Particularly in the Parish of the Holy Sacrifice in UP Diliman). I also picked that certain population because I believe that Filipinos put an effort in dressing up on Sundays because our culture celebrates the day of the Sabbath by attending mass and spending time with our families. 

   I saw that different factors affect different kinds of people. For instance, wealthier people tend to patronize imported or high-end brands, while the people who aren't as brand-conscious prefer to shop local brands and in department stores. One thing in common though is that Filipinos are loyal to the brands they are already familiar with. This was confirmed by a study conducted last 2014 by the Nielsen market research firm. They stated that 80% of the Filipino consumer population prefer to buy from brands they are accustomed to (http://www.nielsen.com/ph/en/insights/reports/2014/
philippine-consumer-confidence-concerns-and-spending-intentions-q3-2014.html). As I've mentioned, we like to dress-up during Sundays. Most of the clothes I spotted were stylish and complemented the person's personal style. Rappler tells us that we Filipinos like to look good (http://www.rappler.com/business/38219-4-factors-explain-filipino-buying-behavior). Filipinos are willing to spend money for their outer appearance but since our culture is fond of eating, we would rather spend on food than on clothes. Lastly, Rappler also mentioned that we have an on-the-go lifestyle. Yes we aim to look good, but as what is seen in the photos, we still prefer to walk around in clothes that are comfortable and easy to wear. Even if it's a simple shirt and jeans combination, as long as it looks good when worn and we can get from place to place while wearing it, it's good enough. Due to our tropical weather, we aren't like other countries who could repeat their clothes in consecutive days. We sweat even from little movements because of the weather, and attract dirt easily because of our environment. We purchase clothes that we could wash and wear easily. 


Sources: 

Cabiao, C. (2013). 4 factors explain Filipino buying behavior. Retreived August 17, 2015 from: http://www.rappler.com/business/38219-4-factors-explain-filipino-buying-behavior

Neilsen. (2014). Philippines retains top 3 ranking as most optimistic market globally in third quarter. Retrieved August 17, 2015 from: http://www.nielsen.com/ph/en/insights/reports/2014/philippine-consumer-confidence-concerns-and-spending-intentions-q3-2014.html

Fashion through Marie Antoinette

from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_Antoinette

   For our CT(Clothing Technology) 11 class, we were asked to watch a film from the professor's list and relate the question "Is fashion important?" to the film. I chose the movie "Marie Antoinette" that was starred by Kristen Dunst and written & directed by Sofia Coppola. 

   The first time I heard of the film, it immediately caught my attention because I am personally a fan of films of the classical genre. A part of why I enjoy watching classical films is because of its setting and costume. Even before I became a Clothing Technology student, I have always gave importance and appreciated the costume production of a movie. Having said this, my first point is that fashion is important because it could be a form of documentation. I mean, historians and anthropologists often study articles, documents, and artifacts to understand people and our history, but I've always believed that fashion could tell a lot about a certain group of people's history; their culture, the work they had to endure, the environment they had to deal with, etc. Through fashion we could be able to see the evolution of society and our world. 

taken from http://www.swoonbrides.net/?p=347

 
    As I have mentioned in my previous blog post, fashion is also a social classifier. It has aided in solidifying the social construct up to date. In the movie, we see that certain people wear different types of clothing depending on the social class they belong to. Marie Antoinette being the queen wore clothing that looked similar to those who belonged to the upper class/elite group but still had other identifiers (height of the wig, jewelry, ornaments, etc.) that singled out her sovereignty. Her maids wore uniforms that were for maids and even if they were in the lower-class, they still dressed better than the peasants or workers who lived outside Versailles. 

    

    I have come to discover that fashion, or the act of dressing up appropriately, is a form of good manners. When you watch the movie, you tend to wonder how do they have enough time to put on 4-5 layers of clothing just for a stroll in the garden or lunch with their colleagues? After several tumblr and pinterest posts on fashion etiquette, I realized that showing up in appropriate clothing (or showing that you've put effort into your choice of clothes that day) is really a way of giving respect to the other party. It's probably disregarded when we were taught to say please and thank you, but I believe it's something everyone should start practicing. Also, I read in a magazine before that when Lucy Torres Gomez was asked what being "best dressed" meant after obtaining the title she said something like, being best dressed is wearing the right thing in the right time. Just thought I could share that with you :-) 

taken from http://www.swoonbrides.net/?p=347

    After hearing all those hefty reasons on the importance of fashion, the last I'd like to give is a more shallow and personal one. I believe fashion is important because it gives pleasure to both men and women. Marie Antoinette was known for being vain, luxurious, and extravagant. In the film we see that she started out juvenile and once she was exposed to the luxury she could have, she grew more fond of it. We see that our love for fashion (especially females) continues to grow with us as we age. Personally, it's also something that delights me, something I could look forward to, and could be a vent or diversion when I'm caught up with other things. I saw myself in Marie Antoinette especially in the parts wherein she went "shopping" or chose all the new shoes and clothes (and food) she wanted. But again, too much of everything isn't good; and that is something we could learn from the movie. 

Sources:

[Photograph of Marie Antoinette]. Retrieved August 10, 2015 from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_Antoinette_(2006_film)
[Photograph of Marie Antoinette]. Retrieved August 10, 2015 from: http://deseased.tumblr.com/post/66019569376/photographed-in-paris-at-the-centre-historique-des
[Photograph of Marie Antoinette]. Retrieved August 10, 2015 from: http://www.swoonbrides.net/?p=347

What Is Clothing?

C L O T H I N G

"fiber and textile material worn on the body. The wearing of clothing is a feature of nearly all human societies. The amount and type of clothing worn is dependent on physical stature, gender, as well as social and geographic considerations." 

I believe the above mentioned meaning best captures what clothing really is. 

W H Y  D O  P E O P L E  W E A R  C L O T H E S ?

To keep the cold out and retain the body’s natural temperature "The human body is like a stove with a fire in it; it constantly generates heat, and in climates where it is very cold it is important to conserve this heat." Wakeman (1898) wrote in his book. I personally am not a fan of very low temperatures because I easily feel cold, so I make sure to have layers of clothes on when I'm in such an atmosphere.

         L A Y E R I N G  I N  K O R E A  A T  -2°C

*There are people who seem to be very comfortable in their own flesh when braving the cold

taken from http://www.popsugar.com/fitness/Dressing-Winter-Sports---Wear-Less-96103

     To allow heat to escape from our bodies For countries with warmer climate, people prefer to leave the house wearing clothes made of thin, light, or flowy material. Clothes made with less material like crop tops, tank tops, shorts, and the like are often a fad in these countries.

    L I G H T  C L O T H I N G  I N  T H E  P H I L I P P I N E  H E A T

*It is said that clothing is our first line of defense against the harmful heat of the sun. There are those who live by this and the belief that covering more surface area with ones clothes could prevent the chances of getting skin cancer. 

taken from http://www.sauerburger.org/dona/nanta2.html

      

     To be used as social classifiers In the early centuries, the perception of clothes dictating ones level in society was widespread. In countries under the leadership of a monarchy, the elite wore plenty of clothes (all at once even) and were fond of intricate, authentic, and costly material. The peasants would be found wearing ragged clothing made of the cheapest material. 

    

      U P P E R  C L A S S  &  L O W E R  C L A S S  F A S H I O N

taken from http://trendsylvania.net/marie-antoinette-wear/

taken from  http://www.thetudorswiki.com/page/The+Tudors+Costumes

 *With people seeing  clothing as a social classifier, they tend to use it as an illusion to alter how society sees them. Wealthy people often don't like to draw attention to themselves, so throwing on a plain shirt and a pair of jeans would do. Others try to climb the social hierarchy by wearing flamboyant and expensive-looking 

 "I think people do wear whatever they want and society often concludes the person's social class based on what he/she is wearing. Those who would appear to look good in anything, even in basics, can be perceived by society as part of the upper social class. Most often than not, because of how they seem to pull off these clothes and make them look elegant and sophisticated, they would be regarded as being part of the upper social class. On the other hand, there would be some that could look as though they are trying hard, they can't pull off an outfit with the same class and elegance as someone in the higher upper social class could, and they can be regarded as being part of the lower social class." - Bea Morales a sophomore from UP Diliman

Sources:

Ham, K. (1995). Why are humans supposed to wear clothes? Retrieved August 8, 2015 from: http://www.christiananswers.net/q-aig/aigkf001.html\

Clothing.Retrieved August 10, 2015 from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clothing

The Skin Cancer Foundation. (n.d.). Clothing. Retrieved August, 9, 2015 from: http://www.skincancer.org/prevention/sun-protection/clothing

Van Hoesen Wakeman, A. (1898). Scientific Sewing And Garment Cutting. NY: Silver, Burdett & Company

[Photograph of people who wear less clothing in the cold]. Retrieved August 10, 2015 from: http://www.popsugar.com/fitness/Dressing-Winter-Sports---Wear-Less-96103

[Photograph of people wearing longsleeves in the beach]. Retrieved August 10, 2015 from: http://www.sauerburger.org/dona/nanta2.html

[Photograph of Marie Antoinette Fashion]. Retrieved August 10, 2015 from: http://trendsylvania.net/marie-antoinette-wear/

[Photograph of 1600s peasant fashion]. Retrieved August 10, 2015 from: http://www.thetudorswiki.com/page/The+Tudors+Costumes+%3A+Middle+Class%2FPeasant+Dress