Biology of Beauty & Psychology of Fashion

Beauty is effected by biology, ideals from history, the media, and our own perceptions. It is imperative, for the betterment of society, to mate with fertile and healthy human beings. Signs of health are smooth skin, luscious hair, symmetry, perfect teeth, youth, and curves. Curves (hips and breasts) are secondary sex characteristics (which appear during puberty) and are considered a reproductive strategy, a way to "present" yourself to your mate. Fashion is a means to achieve this desire, accentuating certain areas or bearing skin in the hopes of finding the quintessential mate.

Money is also a factor. During the pre-1700 era, obesity was considered the ideal. Those with money could afford food, but for others hunting was a necessity. Those with wealth consumed more calories than they burned; whereas nowadays, the current trend is shockingly skinny. People with money have more leisure time, thus more time to exercise. Dieting is also popular among the upper-class because they can afford the fifty dollar steak versus the one dollar hamburger.

The ideals from history are documented through fine art (the study of beauty through fine art is also called aesthetics). Numerous times, one artist's idea of beauty was transformed into the cultural ideal (Botticelli's women are a fabulous examples). The steady evolution of traits considered attractive is blatant and easily identifiable. Knowing that society is still engulfed in this progression fascinates me.

The media plays a massive role in beauty. Their objectives are not culture-oriented. They are selfish and a means to make a profit. The media conditions society, almost like hypnotism, in order to achieve their desires: an ever-growing source of money. The novel Brave New World explores the depth of this concept through a Utopian society based on maintaining a never ending source of profit through brainwashing techniques.

In order to achieve sophistication through emotional dressing, one must not break under the ideals of society. Yes, the media can act as a sort of twisted inspiration, but it can not be the only source of creativity. Do not let the media's view become your view. Your style will come from within and not from repeated attacks by outside sources.

Dolce & Gabbana Spring/Summer 2007

Combining futurism with sex-appeal, Dolce & Gabbana's Spring collection is a commentary on roles in society and their evolution.

The use of plastic and synthetic materials show the human's natural quest for perfection. The pieces themselves are not robotic, it is how the person must wear them in order to achieve the desired effect: confidence. D&G is playing with perception here.

Also, there is heavy use of the extreme. The line begins with skin-tight, plastic material leaving nothing to the imagination and ends with a flourish of metallic, swaths of yellow fabric, and the after taste of an egg in a frying pan.

The line maintains a masculine femininity (heavy on the sex-appeal), which brings up the topic of gender roles. The females are pictured in plastic or black leather corsets, and flouncy, receding hemlines. Is this a symbol of feminine power and endurance? Or the man's subliminal control over her? The corset represents the 1800's which represents female submission which represents male dominance. Male dominance equals the corset, but currently the corset symbolizes s&m (judging by the type of corsets pictured). S&M involves power play which can be traced back to unconventional gain in that direction. So, does the corset equal the female's future power in society, or lack thereof? I suppose the question has to be taken in the context of D&G's influences. Which are surprisingly enough, easy to decipher.

Stanley Kubrick's 2001 A Space Odyssey is clearly the inspiration. Beginning the men's fashion show, the famous monolith scene is reenacted through lighting and music. Also, the new ad campaigns include a plastic child within a glass box, surrounded by models. This is a nod to enlightenment pictured in the movie. Keep in mind, I have not seen it since I was ten so I seem to have forgotten many key parts. I do remember the lead (being male) defeated the robot space ship (signifying the female within this collection because of the aforementioned reasons). To me, it is clear. Females will loose their status and gain controlled freedom.

Dolce & Gabbana have taken a trend to the extreme with noticeable, applaudible panache.