The Brains of Fashion

What’s the truth behind the view that men and women must ‘dumb themselves down’ to fit into the world of fashion? This was the naïve opinion of Miuccia Prada before she became the iconic designer she is today: “I thought fashion was dumb”.

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She may have started her career in politics, joining Italy’s Communist party, but she has definitely thrived in the world of fashion because of her negotiation skills and intellect; not allowing herself to be taken advantage of in the cut-throat world of high end fashion.

The trend of professional women striding into the world of fashion, either by complete career changes or through incorporating their profession into the context of fashion, has caught my attention. The concept of ‘dumb fashion’ is one that doesn’t belong to the modern world.

The lucrative world that is fashion has attracted women from all industries and professions, from lawyers to accountants. There has never been one degree or path to choose; no page in the prospectus that says fashion degree apply here.

With so many men and women desperate to get their Christian Louboutin loafer-clad feet in the door, it’s no surprise that the people making it in the industry previously specialised in other fields, thus have transfered their skills onto a commercial fashion scale.

These midlife career changes can be seen across the fashion spectrum from designer Miuccia Prada, to River Island’s legal counsel, Sarah Phillips and even Island records senior management accountant, Amy Tettey. The professional women are coming out in force and snatching the top jobs; their professional experience and diverse degrees setting them apart.

A serious question is associated with these career moves and changes, is the fashion industry now looking for more academically advanced women? Or am I making a mountain out of mole-hill; that it is just the draw of the thriving world of high fashion that makes women working 9-5 jobs change tactics and swap their everyday comfy Clarks for some Manolos?