Fashion and the Leisure Class of Yesterday and Today-Jennifer

As a lover of fashion I could not pass over Veblen's chapter entitled "Dress as an Expression of the Pecuniary Culture" and I was very intrigued to see how many of the things Veblen discusses can relate to our fashion choices of today. Veblen first discusses the difference between cheap imitations of clothing and the originals, even describing counterfeit clothing. This is something very relevant to us today where we can buy imitations and counterfeits of designer clothing very easily in today's society. What is striking to me is that this was a topic of discussion at the turn of the twentieth century and that those of the leisure class prided themselves on having genuinely produced clothing. This clothing was also meant to show that the wearer did not partake in any manual or productive labor. Veblen tells us this is the case with all of the leisure class, but especially with the women. He discusses womens' bonnets, skirts, French heels, and most importantly for the time, their corsets. Although in the our current time I do not believe there are every day fashions that signal a divide between those of the upper, middle, and lower classes, I do believe when it comes to special occasions and events there is a defined difference between celebrities who wear and spend thousands on custom-made designer dresses and those not of the leisure class who, if they even own or wear such dresses, have less extravagant and luxurious dresses. Also very interesting in Veblen's fashion discussion are the remarks to ever-changing fashion trends. We are well aware today of this season, last season, but I was not aware that fashion seasons were also prevalent at the turn of the century. Veblen discusses the seasons and their ever-changing fashions and styles, which to me shows that ever-changing fashions were a large part of the leisure class.

What was striking to me for the discussion of women's dress was Veblen's relation between their dress and their place within the household. This place was much discussed in earlier chapters, but it seems that Veblen relates this place to all instances of leisure. The woman's economic and marital status coincide with her fashion choices according to Veblen. Veblen tells us the women's dress should show she is unable to complete useful tasks, but that her dress shows the ability of her husband to pay for such luxuries. To me Veblen is trying to tell us the wardrobe of the leisure class should make it clear they are unable to partake in any productive labor, especially the women because it shows the man, the provider of the household, can afford for his wife to be idle.