Wear your heart (and your curse words) on your sleeve

Fashion shouldn’t be so serious

By Sharon Miki, Contributor

As the world meanders towards the tail end of the fashion-week season (New York, London, and Milan are over, and Paris is this week—if you’re keeping track), it’s hard for even the most fashion-averse of us to avoid glimpses of what’s new or hot or not while scrolling through our feeds. Are culottes in, or are gauchos gauche? Should we all be bleaching our eyebrows and cutting the shoulders out of our sweaters? And should we dare to wear one of the year’s most controversial emerging trends—provocative language-emblazoned-clothing—out of the house? Well… why the heck not?

Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Lawrence caused a stir with her street style recently, wearing an oversized Alexander Wang jean jacket with the word “Perv” proudly embroidered onto the back. The star’s casual ensemble twisted the panties of pearl-clutching style-philes, with reporters worrying that Lawrence’s style had wandered too far into obscene territory. Which… is somewhat ridiculous. She wasn’t attending a business meeting; she was walking around LA with her friends. If she wants to wear a shirt that says “Butts” or “Jeanjerking,” who are we to judge?

Whether you’re a celebrity or a college student, what you wear should be an evolving expression of self—this shouldn’t be limited by fear of landing on your friend-circle’s worst-dressed list. I’m not saying you have to wear swear words on your shorts, but, if you feel like doing it, why not? Some may call to the appropriateness of said slogan-wear in professional settings, but come on: it’s possible to use reasonable judgment and incorporate fashion edge into some sartorial scenarios without losing your mind. Just as you wouldn’t add your job interviewer to your Facebook account to show off your party pics, you can choose not to wear your “Fuck Off” blouse to your presentation. (Instead, you can wear it to your celebratory dinner date. Priorities.)

If you aren’t hurting anyone, adorn your body in anything that suits your mood. As Meryl Streep taught us in The Devil Wears Prada, fashion is an industry—but that doesn’t mean that it has to be so serious. Use your judgment, buy clothes that you like, and wear them when you want to. That’s all.