tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146512.post8747048108856163757..comments2024-03-12T22:31:46.500-04:00Comments on What Would Phoebe Do?: Why high fashion is about pleasing straight menPhoebe Maltz Bovyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17996039330841139883noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146512.post-90303384574590028682012-02-03T23:17:53.712-05:002012-02-03T23:17:53.712-05:00Just found your blog through the beheld. I found m...Just found your blog through the beheld. I found myself nodding in agreement while reading this entry. Yes, as a 45 year old woman (living in Israel btw), I am not dressing to attract the male gaze, nor to spite it. I actually find myself feeling much more free to play with clothes, try out makeup, or whatever now that I am ensconced in a happy marriage, mother of 3, feeling much more secure than I did when I was younger. Anyway, eager look through your blog - thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146512.post-21178258778387217632012-02-03T15:00:19.604-05:002012-02-03T15:00:19.604-05:00I think there is a yet another dimension to this: ...I think there is a yet another dimension to this: no matter what intention you dress with, others will interpret it in their own way. And many will assume you are (or should be) dressing to please the male gaze.Eternal*Voyageur (Venusian*Glow)http://www.venusianglow.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146512.post-7835884267285308982012-01-30T16:28:47.613-05:002012-01-30T16:28:47.613-05:00Autumn,
Thanks, and I'm delighted to have fou...Autumn,<br /><br />Thanks, and I'm delighted to have found your blog as well! Dissertation-breaks, here I come.<br /><br />And yes re: the male gaze becoming internalized. Even if one is not always getting dressed so as to be picked up at a bar, one is never not dressing to please men.<br /><br />Anon,<br /><br />That would certainly be a part of male privilege, but I don't think it's as straightforward as women dressing to look thin. It's also thin women wearing unflattering clothes so as to show that even thus clad, they look slender.<br /><br />Helen,<br /><br />Thanks! If the blog were actually called The Overly Analytical Fashion Blog...Phoebe Maltz Bovyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17996039330841139883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146512.post-92153819725846601682012-01-28T08:43:15.258-05:002012-01-28T08:43:15.258-05:00Why are you my favorite? I love everything about t...Why are you my favorite? I love everything about this. Can we start an overly analytical fashion blog together? I am only partly joking.Helenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10926567727704694439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146512.post-78731843143402278212012-01-28T06:51:26.985-05:002012-01-28T06:51:26.985-05:00Or you could ignore fashion and wear whatever you ...Or you could ignore fashion and wear whatever you wan't to wear.<br />I quess that and part of male priviledge is that while picking an new piece of clothing the first concern is how practical is it and not "Does this make me look fat?".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7146512.post-13958703052522192432012-01-27T15:02:43.905-05:002012-01-27T15:02:43.905-05:00Phoebe, your insight here is remarkable, especiall...Phoebe, your insight here is remarkable, especially this: "The miniskirt, the carefully-applied makeup, the perfectly-done hair, these signal, in this framework, that one is not in possession of traits that, alas, are destined to allure." I've sort of been stuck on the earlier part of the equation--the idea that "man-repelling" clothes can be a part of women executing fashion as a sort of code to other women, but you're taking it to the next step here and I'm so glad I found this! (Which I did via Rachel Hills, btw.)<br /><br />As far as not phrasing things in terms of the male gaze--I'm not sure if we even can. I think most of us have internalized it to the point where, for me, there isn't really a distinction any longer. I don't objectify myself, no, but I'm supplying my own male gaze with constant self-surveillance. Um, sorry if that sounds like a bummer!Autumn Whitefield-Madranohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03379314479257695986noreply@blogger.com