Celebs pushing ‘trashy porno style’
A culture of ‘‘ridiculous heels and fake nails’’ is influencing our youngsters, one expert warns. By Sarah Catherall.
GIRLS as young as nine are aspiring to appear like Kim Kardashian, according to a leading fashion academic, who defines the emergence of a new celebrity fashion look as ‘‘trashy glamour’’ and ‘‘porno style’’.
In Wellington this week for an international fashion conference hosted by Massey University, Pamela Church Gibson of the London College of Fashion is ‘‘deeply disturbed’’ at what she sees as a growing fashion trend.
Church Gibson says the celebrity image is becoming the new beauty ideal.
Kim Kardashian and her sisters are now in the front rows or on the catwalks at fashion events, dressed by luxury fashion brands like Givenchy and Balmain who are democratising their brands and using celebrities in their campaigns.
‘‘The ‘celebrity style’ has somehow staged a coup,’’ says Church Gibson, author of the 2012 book Fashion and Celebrity Culture.
She is concerned that although the image of the skinny catwalk model is unhealthy and unattainable for most women, the body type promoted by the Kardashian sisters – exaggerated, voluptuous curves and nipped-in waists achieved through ‘‘waist trainers’’ – is dangerous in a new way.
‘‘Most women don’t have that exaggerated cartoon body. It’s just as rigid a stereotype as the skinny model type. It can be just as difficult to achieve,’’ says Church Gibson.
Young women are wearing ridiculous heels, fake nails, modern-day corsets, hair extensions and fake tan to copy the celebrity look, also espoused by Victoria’s Secret underwear models who are becoming fashion icons.
The Kardashians wear nude, sheer, figure-hugging clothes, a look Church Gibson defines as ‘‘porno style’’. ’
‘‘The fashion system REUTERS is about emulating styles, while the celebrity culture is very much about looking sexy. That’s fine for people in their twenties, but it’s not good for girls who are 12 or 14, or even younger. A lot of these celebrities appeal to young women and girls.’’ She says the obsession with celebrity now means that the ‘‘fashion system is breaking down’’ as fans click to buy what they see online. ‘‘The celebrity image is based on tacky glamour. They promote relentless consumption. I think it’s terrible because I can’t see where it will end.’’ Another issue with celebrity culture is the amount of time young women are spending on social media and taking selfies. ‘‘I’m worried that it has taken over people’s lives – when they’re not checking out the celebrities online, the celebrity narrative is dominating our media. Celebrity stories are becoming our movies.’’ The End of Fashion Conference is on at Massey University’s College of Creative Arts in Wellington on December 8 and 9. endofashion.com