"Fashion is treated too much as news rather than what it is, what it does and how it performs"

Geoffrey Beene’s statement highlights a critical perspective on the modern approach to fashion, contrasting superficial coverage with deeper understanding. Fashion, in contemporary media, is often presented as a cycle of trends, releases, and fleeting moments, akin to breaking news. Collections are unveiled, star-studded events fill social media feeds, and the focus leans on shock value, celebrity endorsement, or seasonal innovation. Such treatment prioritizes the novelty and immediacy, urging audiences to chase what is currently “in,” while disregarding the intrinsic qualities that make fashion enduring and influential.

Missing from this fast-paced coverage is a thoughtful analysis of fashion’s multifaceted roles and impacts. What fashion is, encompassing its artistry, craftsmanship, cultural significance, and historical evolution, is largely relegated to the background. Attire can be a medium for self-expression, a reflection of societal dynamics, or even an act of rebellion. Attention seldom shifts to what clothing *does*: how it shapes personal identity, affects confidence, or articulates unspoken narratives. In exploring how fashion performs, there is an invitation to observe garments beyond their aesthetic, considering practical function, structural innovation, and interaction with the body in motion.

Beene suggests that fashion deserves interpretation as both art and utility, not merely as ephemeral content comparable to daily headlines. Meaningful engagement with fashion sees garments as active participants in everyday life, overlapping beauty with purpose, and tradition with progression. Delving into technique, ethical production, and the ways fashion influences and is influenced by society, enables a fuller appreciation.

By advocating for greater depth in fashion discourse, Beene challenges both creators and audiences to move past surface novelty and contemplate the substance within style. Recognizing the layered roles of fashion fosters richer conversations, inspires more mindful consumption, and ultimately elevates both the industry and its cultural significance.