To think that we don't need a London Modest Fashion week??

[Cherrysoup]

Given that we're not living in the Victorian era?

It smacks of chipping away at women's choices

It does the exact opposite. Telling women the only fashion they should have is the mainstream, that their own choices are not fashion or interesting or worthy is eroding choice. Huge numbers of women around the world choose to dress in a certain way. Who are you tell them their fashion is less important than anyone elses?

Firstly it is only ever applied to women of course ( you rarely if ever hear of men dressing "modestly

Nonsense. In the cultures we are mainly talking about, both men and women are expected to dress modestly. Men are expected to have beards, and/or head coverings, and sleeves, or various types of hair. This is not a women only ideal.

Another issue is you are attempting to define the word modest in a way that it is not being used. It has a particlar definition now when applied to clothing that is not the same as other uses.

Also, this thread is a tiny bit racist.

A church friend once said to me its about dressing attractively but without trying to attract.

Oof. What on earth did they mean?

For those who don't like the word modest, is there a term you'd prefer?

Genuine question - why on earth do I need such a term to describe my clothes?

If I had to describe my clothes I'd say, (and I'm not boasting as clothes are hugely important to me and I get lots of compliments about how well I dress) stylish, elegant, quirky and very expensive.

Genuine question, it obviously bothers people but I have no idea what term to use instead to describe the clothes I wear

Genuine answer- I literally have no idea why you want or need to describe your clothes as "modest"

Another issue is you are attempting to define the word modest in a way that it is not being used. It has a particlar definition now when applied to clothing that is not the same as other uses

Oh yes it has I agree on that. What shocks me is the unquestioning and indeed enthusiastic use in that sense.

It has a particlar definition now when applied to clothing that is not the same as other uses.

What is the definition when applied to clothing?

For those who don't like the word modest, is there a term you'd prefer?

I was going to say sensible, but I wouldn't include in that anything floorlength or with big floaty veils.

I usually end up in the men's department

Actually I think we need to do away with London Fashion Week altogether as the fashion industry is a total waste of time. But I wouldn't start a thread about it as it doesn't affect me.

I dress fairly modestly by most people's standards. But it's actually because I get bloody cold and can't be doing with random bits of skin showing, and in any case with my tits modest is an unlikely achievement.

I personally hate the word - it's vanishingly rarely applied to men, the whole concept of women having to dress so men don't go to hell for immodest thoughts is reprehensible.

But people can dress and think as they like and no one is making me change my wardrobe (unless you count my mother's attempts to cheer things up) so whoever wants to go there can and enjoy each other and the clothes and I'll stay here.

No one is going to change there mind and become a progressive feminist by us not having a modest fashion week. But women will be there working with other women and that's really powerful wherever it happens so I hope it goes well for them.

Now. Could someone organise a week for fat arsed skiers who would like some decent fashionable sallopettes that don't come from Mountain Fucking Warehouse? It's not like there's not a fewer of us around, I've been on the slopes...

Sensible fashion week doesn't have the same ring to it really

It means clothing which covers up much of the body and is not tight, low cut etc. It's not a value judgement on people who don't dress that way.

It's ridiculous to complain about women taking charge of their own fashion and saying "hey, lots of us like dressing a way that is never represented by mainstream fashion and media, so we are going to represent it for ourselves".

So almost naked anorexics stomping up and down runways all over the world no-one says a word, but one small fashion event with women in abayas and hijabs and thats something to complain about?

IMVHO we don't 'need' any fashion week.

I dress modestly but not Modestly.

And yes, while every woman should be able to wear/not wear whatever she jolly well pleases, I do think that some cultures rather impose on women what 'modest' means.

People seem to be missing that this particular event is directed exclusively at Muslim women.

I have a Muslim friend and she wears exactly what every other smart woman in London wears. The only difference, which only people who know would probably notice, is that her neckline is always above her collar bone and her skirts are never above the knee. She has explained what her faith teaches about modesty. She also has strong views about Muslims who come to the UK and dress as if they were still in their country of origin.

comfy-warm-fashion-with-decent-pockets week?

joanofnark17 if you Google the term "modest clothing" you get pages and pages of images of guess what? Women. So yes I stand by the fact that this is a concept aimed at women. And the concept isn't exclusive to one culture of religion either.

Do they need a whole week? Can't there just be some shows during the already existing fashion week?

Home page

Tbh, looks to me as a simple commercial attempt to cash in on the increasing wealth of global populations who don't dress as Western/Europeans do.

Pencils, oooh, we do SO need that event!!

The lack of practicality in so some of women's fashion is one of my bugbears

If you google sexy clothing you get, guess what, pages and pages of women. Your point is silly. Almost all fashion is aimed at women.

People seem to be missing that this particular event is directed exclusively at Muslim women

It's not exclusively, but it is mainly, which is what makes this thread verge on offensive. It's basically dismissing muslim (amd many more) womens fashion and choices as insignificant, pointless, unwanted. And the notion that they are all just forced into certain clothes by men and religion is ethnocentric and racist. As well as patently untrue.

I totally agree that this is not about one religion, or even any religion.
It is cultural.
And imposed by men on women - who often to buy in to the concept.
I have yet to come across the opposite, women telling men what they are 'allowed' to wear and what not.

Some are forced, some are complying by the weight of cultural expectation/norm, some are doing it voluntarily.

I have no issue with modest dressing, none at all.
But pretending there are not wider issues is a bit naive IMO.

There are modesty shops where I live. It's just more objectification of women. I hate it.

It means clothing which covers up much of the body and is not tight, low cut etc

OK, but what does this have to do with the concept of modesty?

On what planet does nobody say a word about half naked anorexics walking down runways Joan? There are loads of complaints and critical analysis about skinny supermodels.

Sensible fashion week doesn't have the same ring to it really

Oh Yes! I love it! Shoes you can walk in and that provide ankle support, long-lasting clothing in natural fibres that is generous of fit without being baggy and that is warm / cool as appropriate. Clothing that allows one full-freedom of movement when walking, running, standing or sitting and that does not itch or scratch or show bum cracks. Clothing that comes in a variety of colours and is not dependent on what is 'in' for the season. Clothing that is reasonable of price and does not rely on sweat shop labour. Count me IN!

But pretending there are not wider issues is a bit naive IMO

It might be if anyone was doing that.

Not everything is about wider issues. Sometimes fashion is just fashion. Do you feel the need to justify why you dress how you do (which, lets face it, has wider influences and societal influences) or do you just dress yourself? So why should anyone have to justify their desire for fashion that reflects their life and clothing choices?