Rise of the New Feminine

Here's a piece I wrote for my University Newspaper "Varsity" a couple of months ago. Thought it was about time I put it up on here! Enjoy :)

When I typed ‘define feminine’ into Google, the first answer it gave me was “having qualities or an appearance traditionally associated with women, especially delicacy and prettiness.” This is absurd. For me, feminism, and indeed being feminine (with regard to fashion) is about enjoying what I wear. It’s not about what other people will find most sexy; it’s about what’s right for me. Forget what is trending or what’s deemed ‘in’ this season: one designer simply cannot speak on behalf of all women. It’s this individuality that we need to respect and celebrate. With this in mind, it is time to acknowledge fashion’s nod to feminism.

If you’ve been paying any attention to London Fashion Week (or even to high-street shop windows), you’ll know one thing: the time has come when heels, in the eyes of fashion royalty such as Chanel and J. JS Lee, are no longer a woman’s staple shoe. With the rise of ‘normcore’ – that is, the idea of one’s style being so normal and restrained that it represents normal gone hard core – it’s no surprise that the way the fashion world views femininity is evolving.

Even Victoria Beckham, the Queen of Heels herself, has ditched her five-inch stilettos in favour of the flatform (flat platform shoes). Her new Autumn/Winter collection boasted more practical, anti-injury inducing footwear – and thank God for that.Regardless of the fact that wearing heels for at least eight hours every working day (only to swap them for taller and more spindly ones on a night out) can cause major long-term foot problems, the heel has also perpetuated a rigid, one-sided and hyper-sexualised image of what ‘womanhood’ is about.

Don’t get me wrong – I love a good heel, it makes me feel empowered and sophisticated. However, so does a brightly coloured trainer. And I shouldn’t feel like any less of a strong, young woman if I’m not wearing heels. From an early age girls are subjected to the idea that unless they are teetering around in Cinderella-esque, ultra-dainty shoes, they aren’t fulfilling their roles as beautiful, ‘proper’ women.But what is a Proper Woman? Twenty years ago, she may have been the LBD-donning, stiletto-wearing siren, but now,things have changed. Personally, I feel as womanly as ever wearing my deep blue and magenta Nike trainers, high-waisted jeans and baggy T-shirt. I feel confident, feminine and, most importantly, like myself. And that’s exactly what feminism is about, right? The whole point is not being defined by someone else’s definition of what being feminine means. And it’s about time the fashion world stumbled off its high heels and onto a more humble, all-embracing flatform.

For the original article check out: Varsity

And Varisty has a whole Fashion Section which I will be editing this term. So watch this space for more of the same!

Love from Berlin

Abandoned runway screaming for attention! How could I not.

 

Sunglasses: Ray Ban

Shirt: Vintage

Lips: Red Tint, Benefit

 

Belt: Vintage

Bag: River Island

 

Ring: Vintage

Nails: Barry M 

Model: Anisha Doshi
Photographer: Praneeja Roy

Director, Stylist: Gayathiri Kamalakanthan

Back to the 20's for a lesson in Glam

Here is a shoot set in Oxford's Christ Church Meadows. I would like to thank my friend and photographer Romain Reglade for his time and talent! I directed this shoot a few months ago...the models are all students who were good fun to work with. Please visit Oxford Fashion Society's Blog to see more of what we do.

The Most Decadent Dance Costumes

I did  a photoshoot for Oxford Indian Classical Arts society. The dance costumes for South Indian Classical dance are typically brightly coloured and incredibly mesmerizing . I thought they were breathtaking...what do you think?

Go to www.oicas.co.uk to find out more about what OICAS do.

Greying Autumnal Threads

Autumn is here. I can tell you that because I had to put on a jumper when I went outside today :(

...But it's not all bad. With dropping temperatures comes the opportunity to layer. Here's a photoshoot I did for Oxford Fashion Society. Check out our blog - http://www.oxfordfashionsociety.com/

And here's the shoot: 

Shirt : Dorothy Perkins 

Dress: Hollister

Jumper: Topshop

Photographer: Victoria Lampard

Model: Ellie Fox

Stylist and Director: Gayathiri Kamalakanthan 

Colour Me Gold

Here's a jewelry shoot we did over the Christmas holidays... 

Photographer: Praneeja Roy

Tartan Leggings

Stopped a girl in the street and took a picture of her tartan leggings. Love the colours and the fact that they're not trousers, but leggings. Win for clothes of the skin-tight variety! 

What do you have that's tartan ? 

G x