September 2020
Mid September
This specific post was centered around the idea of using items of clothing— facemasks, hats, dresses, and shoes— to inspire and urge citizens around the country to vote. Then the tragic news of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s passing arrived and made me rethink how to approach this entry.
The intersection of politics and fashion is a fairly new trend that began with the shrinking of the world with the boom of the internet. Before that, women wore clothes that looked good and may have possessed meaning but the vast majority of people never knew —or maybe didn’t care to know because women were purely ornamental?—the truth behind the layers of tweed, cotton, leather., etc. The increase of people clamoring for the exact brand of necklace or facemask adorned by a female politician is a direct result of women being elected to government.
In the month of September, well-known women around the country have been using their influence and celebrity to make a simple statement: VOTE. Dr. Jill Biden wore Stuart Weitzman shoes emblazoned with “VOTE” on the boot shaft when she cast her vote for the Delaware state primary. Diane Keaton walked the streets donning a hat that stated “Vote bitches” knowing paparazzi will capture and disseminate the image widely. Designers are using the catwalks of a virtual Fashion Month to encourage voters across the country. And finally if anyone is to inspire the potential voters it is the looming memory of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. In addition to her judicial robes, she added the flourish of an intricate neck piece. An simple accessory made unforgettable by an icon. These women, not all politicians, are forging a path to promote civics and patriotism in their fashion choices.
The United States is now in a descending to the final days of the presidential election cycle. With R.B.G.’s passing, it adds another layer to the importance of voting on November 3rd. The future of the highest rulings in the land, a woman’s right to choose, the fate of immigrants in the U.S., and the safety of all citizens rest on the outcome of this election.
So please vote.
