The Morality Of Fashion Mags

[HisChildForever]

Lil Red -

Yes, Cosmo (at least from what I know) is very, very sexual. Everything in it is about sex, as is their website.

[Domine ut Videam]

Personally, I choose not to read them. I feel they promote a very unhealthy (and unrealistic) body image. By not presenting the true beauty that real women exhibit I feel that they are slighting our dignity as women. Also, while I may not consciously look at ads in those magazines and say "I need to drop a few pounds, because I look nothing like that." I do know that subconsciously I am affected and that those images do not help me to love myself and my body.

[MissyP89]

On a somewhat relevant note, have any of you ladies seen the Dove ads/commercials with (IMHO) tastefully nude older women?

What do you think of this campaign for beauty?

[Ash Wednesday]

I have an interest in design, fashion, culture and costume as far as the visual art end of things, and I often browse fashion and trends to keep tabs on things like color trends and forecasts as part of my line of work, because I often do art for products, apparel and textiles for people behind the scenes for some major clothing labels and companies. As far as my direct dealings with the industry, I approach that in a pretty detached way and at arm's length, though. I certainly don't see the need to read a lot of magazines or watch TV on a regular basis to know what's going on out there or what can be created to make something functional or aesthetically pleasing. As is, the real creatives that drive visual culture DON'T follow "what's in" -- they don't have time and are too busy being innovators rather than letting others think for then. A lot of those gossip and style magazines are pointless, regurgitated garbage for poseurs, not real artists, inventors and thinkers.

*adjusts pretentious black beret and continues*

No doubt a line has to be drawn, but I don't think style, design, apparel and fashion is bad in itself. People shouldn't get the idea that we should wear grey potato sacks and burqas and live in houses with blank walls, or that people can't model products or clothing.

I blame a lot of the seamy underbelly that exists in these industries on two things: consumerism and most of all, [b]pornography.[/b] I believe a lot of the obsession with sex and body consciousness is influenced less by fashion, design and culture in itself and more by porn. Fashion and people modeling them is nothing new. But the influence of porn is, relatively speaking. Vogue and style magazines in the 50s and 60s and prior had the fashion and the appreciation for it in visual aesthetic, but not the garbage.

[img]http://b-muse.com/images/products/BTFlapper1.jpg[/img]

Edited October 16, 2008 by Ash Wednesday

[she_who_is_not]

Reading ( or looking, rather) at fashion magazines does not encourage me in virtue. By their fruits I reject them.

[missionarybelle]

I have subscriptions to Vogue, W, and a Neiman Marcus catalogue. I don't read the articles but I do like to look at many of the pages. As a former fashion design major and now an art major, fashion, trends, and colors interest me. I love to peruse through the magazines and look at the pictures. I often cut out the outfits and layouts that i like and paste them into my "book of inspiration" and go back and look through it when i need ideas or jsut want to. However, I don't leave my magazines lying around for my brother to stumble upon and I tear out anything that's very immodest.

seventeen, cosmo, etc are jokes and personally, i feel they're useless.

[CatherineM]

[quote name='MissyP89' post='1679249' date='Oct 16 2008, 04:49 PM']On a somewhat relevant note, have any of you ladies seen the Dove ads/commercials with (IMHO) tastefully nude older women?

What do you think of this campaign for beauty?[/quote]

I was mixed about it. I liked the idea that they were showing that people can be beautiful even when older and wider, but it did still make them seem like they were being immodest.

[mariahLVzJP2]

[quote name='Lil Red' post='1679008' date='Oct 16 2008, 12:51 PM']+J.M.J.+
I don't agree. I think if a woman reads those magazines regularly, she will start to subconsciously think of herself, other women, and men in a different way. those magazines regularly show airbrushed, very skinny, perfect skin/hair models. yeah, that's realistic. and the articles? don't get me started. in 'seventeen' magazine (which i got this week to make a point for youth group), there was an article about 'the truth about the pill' (which was a bunch of nonsense), an article about 'i fell in love with my best friend (a pro-gay article), and an article about 'the perfect kiss'. all in a magazine that is mostly about fashion, that is geared towards the tweens, teens, and a little older. cosmo, glamour are just as bad (if not worse).

i don't think anyone should read these magazines on a regular basis. grounded in the faith or not. same goes with 'celebrity gossip' magazines (like Us Weekly, and others). it focuses us too much on 'of the world' things - like money, jewelry, makeup, fashion, sex in a relationship. nowhere do ANY of these magazines mention God or a higher power. nowhere. (except for the 'astrology' parts, which we know that's working for the wrong guy )

edit: i know that most here will disagree with me, and that's fine. but i honestly don't see the value in these magazines. there are other ways to find out what the fashion is (and be modest about it) instead of these magazines.[/quote]

I agree Lil Red Though, I must admit to looking at gossip magazines for the celeb fashion. I like seeing how they make runway fashion look more street chic. Being in the fashion industry, I like to know what the latest trends are for my job and for me Its weird though because after being exposed to all of that celeb trashiness, i feel like i need to pick up a good Catholic book

I do recommend Lucky Magazine for fashion; they have really cute stuff in there minus the trashiness

[philothea]

[quote name='Lil Red' post='1679008' date='Oct 16 2008, 12:51 PM']i don't think anyone should read these magazines on a regular basis. grounded in the faith or not. same goes with 'celebrity gossip' magazines (like Us Weekly, and others). it focuses us too much on 'of the world' things - like money, jewelry, makeup, fashion, sex in a relationship. nowhere do ANY of these magazines mention God or a higher power. nowhere. (except for the 'astrology' parts, which we know that's working for the wrong guy )[/quote]
Total agreement. I realize there might be people who have legitimate professional reasons to deal with those magazines, and I hope they're strong. The content is vile.

[quote name='prose' post='1679045' date='Oct 16 2008, 02:11 PM']I think that it is interesting how things like this can affect people unconsciously.

I started watching Much Music (Canada's MTV) a while back in an attempt to understand my youth better. I ended up feeling fat, ugly, and poor in a very short time.[/quote]
That happened to me too, with MTV, years ago. I just wanted to leave something on in the background while I was working on other things, and it completely distorted my perception of what normal people are like. I'm sure working at home and hardly going outside didn't help.

Now, from St Francis DeSales () on fashion itself --
[indent]Always be neat, do not ever permit any disorder or untidiness about you. There is a certain disrespect to those with whom you mix in slovenly dress; but at the same time avoid all vanity, peculiarity, and fancifulness. As far as may be, keep to what is simple and unpretending--such dress is the best adornment of beauty and the best excuse for ugliness. S. Peter bids women not to be over particular in dressing their hair. Every one despises a man as effeminate who lowers himself by such things, and we count a vain woman as wanting in modesty, or at all events what she has becomes smothered among her trinkets and furbelows. They say that they mean no harm, but I should reply that the devil will contrive to get some harm out of it all. [b]For my own part I should like my devout man or woman to be the best dressed person in the company, but the least fine or splendid[/b], and adorned, as S. Peter says, with "the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit."[/indent]
Probably you all knew this advice, but I was confused for years over what to do about clothing!

Edited October 17, 2008 by philothea

[CatherineM]

I liked the quote from St Francis DeSales. I have had issues in the past on spending way too much money on my wardrobe, like the GNP of a small country's worth of designer clothes, tailored clothes, and even custom Ferragamo's. It was so over the top, that I no longer allow myself to buy new clothes, except for shoes, socks and underwear. I either make it, or buy it used. Even then, I limit myself to a certain number of each item, and only allow myself to make a new pair of pants when I actually wear a pair out. It's some self-imposed modesty as penance for my vainglorious, indolent past.

[Lil Red]

[quote name='MissyP89' post='1679196' date='Oct 16 2008, 02:52 PM']We can, and should, look good, providing we're not vain about it.[/quote]agreed.

[quote name='MissyP89' post='1679196' date='Oct 16 2008, 02:52 PM']As far as eating disorders, though, I've found that many of today's magazines are quick to denounce that and offer help for girls who are struggling, healthy recipes, etc.[/quote]
i disagree though. they say one thing about eating disorders in an article, but throughout the whole magazine and in the ads they promote the very unhealthy image they say they are against.

[quote name='Ash Wednesday' post='1679256' date='Oct 16 2008, 03:52 PM']No doubt a line has to be drawn, but I don't think style, design, apparel and fashion is bad in itself. People shouldn't get the idea that we should wear grey potato sacks and burqas and live in houses with blank walls, or that people can't model products or clothing.[/quote]agreed, and i'm not saying that we should.

[quote name='Ash Wednesday' post='1679256' date='Oct 16 2008, 03:52 PM']I blame a lot of the seamy underbelly that exists in these industries on two things: consumerism and most of all, [b]pornography.[/b] I believe a lot of the obsession with sex and body consciousness is influenced less by fashion, design and culture in itself and more by porn. Fashion and people modeling them is nothing new. But the influence of porn is, relatively speaking. Vogue and style magazines in the 50s and 60s and prior had the fashion and the appreciation for it in visual aesthetic, but not the garbage.[/quote]
yes! you hit the nail on the head!!!

[Ash Wednesday]

[quote name='Lil Red' post='1679778' date='Oct 17 2008, 10:49 AM']i disagree though. they say one thing about eating disorders in an article, but throughout the whole magazine and in the ads they promote the very unhealthy image they say they are against.[/quote]

One thing that is odd about people's unbalanced approach to the body and sexuality -- is how much it coincides with the imbalance with regards to how people approach eating and food. Jean Kilbourne once gave a talk at our college and pointed the irony of those housewife magazines that have advertising and articles on dieting and weight loss -- and yet are laden with recipes for things like pastries and chocolate cake. Many diet foods are pretty much geared towards keeping a person's craving for the very foods they aren't supposed to eat. You may lose weight and eat diet cake and cookies, but it still trains your taste buds to crave the real thing. Thus begins the yo-yo dieting cycle.

Interestingly enough, Kilbourne, although she does run on the liberal/feminist side, recently came out with a book about how children are being sexualized and she often has a lot of valid points and good observations in her writing.

[cmotherofpirl]

[quote name='CatherineM' post='1678968' date='Oct 16 2008, 12:30 PM']It's not just fashion mags. It's also design magazines that make you want to spend $25,000 on a new spa bathroom, or car mags that make you want to restore that 56 Vette. Remember what Hannibal Lector said, "we covet what we see." The purity prayer says to shield your eyes.[/quote]
Truer words were never spoken. This is also why I don't watch the morning shows on any of the networks: they are all fluffy dumbed-down versions of said magazines and glamorize all the wrong things in our society. Who careswhat an overpai overrated actor thinks about ANYTHING!.