Yesterday, I was reading the Huffington Post when an article caught my eye. This was the title:
Donna Karan Suggests Harvey Weinstein’s Alleged Victims Were ‘Asking For’ It
It stopped me dead in my tracks. Really? Did she really say that? I read the article and yes, she did. Wow.
I have written newsletters, given style presentations, and am constantly telling my clients that their style makes a statement to the world about who they are.
I always ask, “What do you want your style to say about you?”
Perhaps you want the world to know how confident you are. So you dress in something that exudes confidence for you.
Or maybe you want to tell the world that you are super creative, and like to think out of the box. So you put on a favorite printed dress and pick out the perfect complimentary patterned jacket – two items that many would be afraid to combine, but it totally works for you.
My client was meeting her husband for a celebratory dinner a few weeks ago and she wanted to look especially sexy. So we found her a dress that was reminiscent of a dress she had worn many years ago when they had been courting for a few months. This dress we found embodied the sexiness for her that she felt when they were dating.
It goes without saying that your style is making a statement about you, whether you know it or not. You get dressed everyday. So why not have your style be a supporter of who you are and make sure your style is saying something about you that you want the world to know.
I call it dressing by “design,” instead of by “default.”
However…in response to the recent comments by Donna Karan, no matter what your style is saying about you…no matter what image you project, or feeling you emote or arouse with your clothing, the one thing it never says about you is, you’re “asking for it.”
Only your lips can say that. I mean that literally! Let me be specific. You have to say to someone that you want it with your lips. If you don’t utter “I want it,” then NO one has the right to assume that you do.
No matter what you wear, no matter in what fashion you dress, or in my opinion, although I don’t suggest you do this, no matter if you’re walking down the middle of the street buck f’ing naked, no one has the right to touch you, and certainly no right to sexually harass or assault you in any way. Period.
*****
Now, it’s your turn. I’d love to hear from you. Your insights and inspiration are appreciated so please share your stories in the comments below.
If you have a question also post it in the comment section below. I check it daily. Since the topic is always about fashion or style no question that you ask will be “off Topic.”
That means as far as I’m concerned, when you ask a question that is the topic. Everyone else who’s reading it can follow up on my answer. There will be no questions that you ask that will be be too far off topic because your question will be the current topic. So…ask away!
Oh…and your email address is not “required” even though it says so. 🙂 Don’t even ask.
Blog me.
Love,
~Michelle
love that you took the issue on. this is great topic for discussion. i can almost hear it echoing in the halls of universities around the world. i am still trying to get my jaw back up to meet my face! i was shocked re: donna k’ comment. wft was she thinking!? or wasn’t she.!? or was she paid!? the style icon hasn’t learned a damn thing from all that yoga & meditation. i’m done. no cold shoulder top for me.
Hey, you! Thanks for commenting over here. It was an easy issue to take on since I am so passionate about this subject in all ways. My jaw is right there with yours!
Nope she hasn’t learned. – Super disappointing. No more DK for me either. And I won’t be showing my clients any of her collection either unless they request it. Thanks too for standing your ground on this one too!