Occupy Wall Street: Fashion In The Streets?

Take a glance at photos from New York's ongoing Occupy Wall Street protests and you'll see plenty of dirty hair, plaid shirts, fanny packs, sweatshirts and other less-than-appealing sartorial statements.

But look closer and you'll also see some adorable protest get-ups. The New York Times decided to take a look at protest fashion -- and now a critic from the Telegraph is asking: Is Occupy Wall Street just one big fashion show?

The Times created a slideshow called "What To Wear To A Protest?" on Thursday, which took snapshots of stylish protesters and asked them about their ensembles.

Some protesters' outfits reflected their anti-corporate, disaffected stances, such as 19-year-old Brian who wore borrowed clothes and noted, "All these kids are trying to protest against corporations while they’re wearing Hollister and J. Crew and smoking cigarettes, which are the hugest corporations in America."

He may have been referring to a fellow protester, 30-year-old Liza, who told the Times:

"I'm wearing heels and they’re really comfortable. I kind of didn't plan to be protesting. I mean what's a protest outfit? Like in case you get maced or arrested? You have to think about the elements and the forces that come up against you. The pencil skirt is vintage I got at a thrift store. My gauzy shirt I just got the other day and I've worn it maybe four times already. The sunglasses are Michael Kors."

It might be that quote that caused the Telegraph to write today:

It all rather suggests that Occupy Wall Street is little more than a fashion show masquerading as a political movement, a gathering of super-cool yoof who want to show off how hopping mad they are about bankers and war and pollution and stuff and also how fabulously dressed and adorned they are.

Well, maybe not quite. Sure, there are protesters Michael Kors and Hollister and everything in between. But does that mean their protests -- for, say, higher taxes for the rich or more accountability for banks -- are disingenuous?

Anyway, we may stop by the protest next week and we're pretty sure we'll be wearing clothes purchased at -- gasp! -- a chain retailer like H&M. Oh well.

See the full slideshow at NYTimes.com.

 

 

Comments

[millefleur]

10:04 AM on 10/10/2011

I hate the premise the media puts out that all the #OWS protesters are dirty, grungy kids with no fashion sense. As if being political and fashionable are mutually exclusive. That's BS. You can totally be hot and political! Check her out! http://abbediaz.com/2011/10/07/fashionistas-for-the-99-percent/2251/

[thebearschick]

01:28 PM on 10/09/2011

Wow. Michael Kors sunglasses. Way to help your cause by wearing brand name sunglasses to a protest against the "wealthy"

[dorcare]

12:43 PM on 10/09/2011

they're on the streets protesting. i'm home doing nothing ,not proud of that...i admire them.you...to even have an article ,no matter for or against, on a fashion page, shows what little integrity you have. shame on you.

[xhawk2]

10:50 AM on 10/09/2011

It's like the PETA activists who protest against fur, but wear leather.

[dadw5boys]

10:11 AM on 10/09/2011

Women never fail to amaze me. I still hear this older Republican Woman saying " why are prices so high ? Good people deserve nice things ", this from a woman who has never had a job and gives her husband hell constantly.
He looks at me and grins like one day she will wake up and I will be gone.

[manniefaces]

10:00 AM on 10/09/2011

All articles like this attempt to do is discredit a real, organic grassroots movement. This is not journalism it is disgusting.

[snesich]

01:32 AM on 10/09/2011

"They're nothing but a bunch of hippies who don't work and wear worn out rags and look like unwashed bums!"

Or

"Oh, they're just a bunch of kids obsessed with fashion and style who have lots of money and time on their hands and are just down there at the protest because they consider it a good place to show off their obsession with the latest in clothes, accessories and shoes!"

So, which is it, people? Are they a bunch of no-label, no-style hippies or a bunch of self-obsessed materialist, vapid mall kids?

The one constant here: They are both stereotypes that make it easy for some people to stereotype and then hate.

Maybe people should consider the very real possibility that these are individuals and that the crowd is comprised of the entire American spectrum, all united by one main idea: the very wealthy ruling elite has concentrated too much money and too much power in the hands of a very small number of people. And now, it's time to reverse that and put our nation back on track.

[bjo]

10:12 PM on 10/08/2011

Yeah... well, consider the source. It's The Telegraph afterall.. doing their bit (their teensy-tinesy-little-bit) for the Wall Street (and Fleet Street) peeps. Remember their articles on BP during the time when public outrage went into full swing over the oil debacle in the Gulf of Mexico?

[cosmicmom]

06:34 PM on 10/08/2011

First you don't report on this at all. Then you begrudgingly give some press. Now you're trivializing it as a "fashion show?" What can we expect from a corporate W.h0 RE like the NYT?

[slomega1]

02:36 PM on 10/08/2011

Who really cares what they're wearing? Is this a generation that is finally developing something resembling "political awareness"? That's the question that should be dressed...I mean...addressed.

[Arlan]

02:10 PM on 10/08/2011

Why do you suppose only 27 1/2% of people involved with this WE consciousness are from the United States?

Occupy Wall Street Helps Create World Peace One and not World War Three - http://www.aunitedworld.net/99
WE ARE THE 99% - http://www.aunitedworld.net/ows

[annadams]

12:39 PM on 10/08/2011

A name for the movement is needed. A party name similar to Democratic Party, Republican Party, or Tea Party is needed. My suggestion is The 99 Percent Party but I'm sure everyone can brainstorm and come up with a name.

[Bandit29]

12:32 PM on 10/08/2011

How "fashionable" can anyone be who stinks of body odor? Please.

[Martin van Milk]

08:20 PM on 10/08/2011

so everyone at the protest smells of body odor?

[thelumynosity]

02:35 AM on 10/09/2011

I guess you were there to smell the people.

[Bandit29]

11:57 AM on 10/09/2011

Some things cannot be avoided, no matter how much one tries. Overwhelming stench is one of them. Think of it as a human landfill.

[Ann Thurlow]

12:18 PM on 10/08/2011

The protesters are young and, therefore, inarguably hipper than the Tea Partiers. Whenever young people assemble, many will want to be stylish and attractive. If I were heading down to lower Manhattan as a 19-year-old, I would want to look good for any cute guys and cameras I might encounter. If, as a middle-aged matron, I find myself joining in (which I might), I will be more concerned about comfortable shoes, and weather-appropriate clothing.

[acpress]

12:16 PM on 10/08/2011

Occupy Wall St although a genuine movement in itself, would fail partially the same way as the Tea party and for similar reasons. They both align with political parties which have failed in governance and have shown a lack of innovative vision to solve national problems because they are inhibited by failed practices. The new generation of Americans ( and Europeans ) wants to continue to live like lords, comfortably, masterly, princely and often luxuriously without having to earn for these fairly. They do not want to work hard, obtain expertise in difficult disciplines that train to solve problems and to be creative. They want to import cheap labor , cheap oil and capital by occupying other people's resources, establishing hundreds of military bases on their lands and planting kings, Emirs and dictators among them. They are beginning to realize that this is not going to work for ever. Recent awakenings in the Third World are making the young Western generations anxious. They want their own rich to come down to earth and live just like the rest of the people. Sooner or later these imperfect movements would change the culture, hopefully before the shock is imposed upon them. At present the media on all sides is selective in admitting the truth. The West is currently refusing to wake up to the realities of a New Age driven by a larger number of earth inhabitants, increasing competition and increasing confrontation before yielding to colonial encroachments.

[thatsNotWhatIHeard]

01:19 PM on 10/08/2011

the Occupy Wall St movement doesn't align itself with the democrat nor republican party, it largely views both parties as bought out by corporations from campaign donations and gifts and the like, thereby reducing the impact of everyone's vote and voice in determining the direction of this country. You'll find just as many people who've lost all faith in Obama there as you will that have lost faith in all of our government's leaders.

[acpress]

04:53 PM on 10/08/2011

Thanks and I fervently hope that you are right. What may be misleading is the campaign to support this movement by people like Robert Reich , Clinton's labor Secretary, in the same rally where he is supporting President Obama. This movement needs to come up with three or four specific demands that will curb un-American financial activities and gather the supporters around it. It is the corruption in politics and finance that is failing us not the ideology itself.