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The fashion industry has grown rapidly over time. For years, people have been attracted to clothes that provide style, not functionality. It’s interesting to look back at what people have worn over each of the last decades, reflecting on how drastically fashion has changed. “Love, Loss, and What I Wore” illustrates this idea perfectly.
Ilene Beckerman published the book in 1995 as a kind of memoir. As the title promises, this book follows Beckerman’s life journey as he navigates relationships, death and divorce and what he wears through them. Each turn of the page presents a story about a particular event and what she wore for the occasion, alongside simple pictures of herself in each of the different outfits. The chapters are separated by decades, starting with the 1940s. It reminds readers of the passage of time and the clear way in which fashion ages with Beckerman. This setting acts as a time capsule.
Sometimes the writing that is juxtaposed with the picture only describes an ordinary day, not an unforgettable event. This immediately shows the reader that no matter how mundane the situation may be, one can easily remember what they were wearing at any given time. Beckerman points out that items of clothing can be powerfully tied to certain moments in a person’s life and become deeply linked to relevant feelings from then on — regardless of how insignificant those feelings are now. Fashion choices seem to be symbolic of life situations.
Fashion journalism is broader than ever, growing far beyond the pages of print publications. For decades, fashion magazines ruled the fashion world. People will eagerly anticipate the emergence of new issues and find themselves greatly influenced by what they read. There are several other sources for fashion content, so people rely on these magazines to learn what’s trending. Today, fashion journalism is mostly online. Of course, there are still popular fashion magazines, but most of today’s fashion content is digital. Even Vogue posts articles to its website more often than it releases physical magazine issues.
This switch allows for an abundance of fashion content. It used to take a lot of effort to get published by fashion magazines. Now, literally anyone can blog and say whatever his heart desires. It doesn’t automatically make someone’s opinion true or important just because it’s posted on the internet; however, it is interesting to see so much variety in fashion content. Basically, any style you like is being worn and talked about by at least one person on the internet right now. This allows people to make new fashion choices that they may not have had before, as they feel encouraged by seeing others who agree with their style preferences.
When everyone has the opportunity to share their point of view on fashion, it becomes less about overall trends and more about everyday choices. This new environment has created a space that encourages fashion writers to share unique and specific outfits. This is known as Outfit of the Day (OOTD) — and “Love, Loss, and What I Wore” is the first version of this.
Beckerman wrote “Love, Loss, and What I Wore” in a very similar style to the way some people write on their fashion blogs. The idea that one simple piece of clothing can mean so much revives a concept that Beckerman pioneered decades ago. On one page, Beckerman wrote about the outfit he wore for his senior photo for the yearbook. It may seem insignificant, but it was a big deal at the time, and it stuck with it. Also, outside of her own fashion choices, she writes about what her loved ones wear. At one point, she remembers her sister with red nails and love for Frank Sinatra, in more detail related to the description of the dress her sister wore. Memories of her sister’s outfits years ago are closely tied to the personality traits she displayed. Beckerman writes about his aunt’s jewelery and his grandmother’s stockings. This seemingly minor detail remains in his memory because some fashion choices represent something more meaningful than just the clothes on one’s body.
Today’s fashion journalists must remember “Love, Loss and What I Put on”. Beckerman perfectly describes how fashion is meaningful. People often write about fashion in a way that ignores the strong emotional bonds people can hold with their clothes. Perhaps because it has become so cheap to buy clothes that are poorly made, many people’s focus has shifted from quality to quantity. It’s hard to feel anything about items that fall into this category. You have to like what you already have in your closet. Your wardrobe doesn’t need to reflect your wealth. Beckerman wrote about the myriad of clothes his mother made for him, which he held were as expensive as things that cost him a fortune. You can buy used clothes, and look for clothes you feel connected to.
Sally Wendkos Olds wrote an article for nycitywoman.com about his experience listening to Beckerman speak at a book group. He wrote: “Her warmth and unique fashion sense reminds us of the emotional touchstone our clothes have for us. The reason, he says, that both his book and subsequent plays were so successful has to do with their recognition of women’s emotional connection to their clothing, bonds that span across generations, nationalities, and income levels..” Allow yourself to feel that emotional bond with your clothes. When wearing your absolute favorite item, you should feel invincible.