Dr.

Elizabeth Rozell
Taylor Wilson
MFD 401
2/03/18
The Dress
Week 3 Abstract

Week 3 Article Abstract

I. Reference to the Article

Friedman, Vanessa. “Designs on Female Empowerment at Chanel and Dior.” The

New York Times, The New York Times, 23 Jan. 2018,

www.nytimes.com/2018/01/23/style/couture-chanel-dior-paris.html.

II. Statement of the Main Issue

In this New York Times article, author Vanessa Friedman discusses the feminist

implications of the Spring couture shows for Chanel and Dior that took place in Paris

about a week ago. As the feminist movement advances, we see it seeping more and

more into the fashion industry, but they are also conversely related as fashion is

always bringing new ways for women to express their individuality and fierce nature.

III. Methodology of the Author

Vanessa Friedman, author of this article, seems to have attended the Paris Couture

Shows in January, and uses firsthand experience with the garments as well as past

knowledge and understanding of present pop culture to analyze these designs and

their place in modern society.

IV. Results and Conclusions

After discussing the #MeToo movement that is so prevalent amongst celebrities and

powerful American figures, Friedman starts off the article by questioning what

feminism in fashion is really all about- sexuality? ultimate desire? challenging the
 Dr. Elizabeth Rozell
Taylor Wilson
MFD 401
2/03/18
The Dress
Week 3 Abstract

rules of both gender and fashion? To her, it appears that it is a little bit of all of

these. The combination of clean lines and masculine fit with feminine details and

flirty design elements brings female empowerment in many forms. A woman can

now challenge gender stereotypes at the same time that she unapologetically

embraces her femininity and sex appeal- and perhaps the power comes from the

fact that it is not for anyone but her own self. The author discusses also that

technology has been used to break fashion out of its former mold into a beautiful

new era of design, a parallel to women of today breaking out of their traditions and

challenging themselves for growth into new roles. In the final paragraph, Friedman

makes perhaps her best conclusion: “[The feminine design elements were] a sly

demonstration that the unabashedly pretty could also be liberating.”

V. Implications of Findings

The combination of feminine beauty with masculine power has been a theme of

fashion in the feminist era. As the movement increases in strength and numbers,

designs only become more tailored to the current culture, and this year showed no

exception. Although it takes longer for these concepts to seep into the bridal

industry, and then even longer to show up in the conservative Springfield area, these

are important trends to take note of as the call for female empowerment and

gender equality continues to sweep the nation.