Review of Belarusian Fashion Week 2015: traditional sexuality vs new feminity

It took ten seasons of Belarus Fashion Week for the guests to switch over discussions of organization level and degree of utility of this event to designers collections. And this season designers have divided into those who feel the spirit of time and the rest.

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Traditional aesthetics and new feminity collided on the Belarusian catwalk.  And a consumer who accepts and understands the traditional feminity, treats a new feminity with alert and distrust.

Traditional concept of a woman’s beauty is based on three main terms – bosom, waist and hips. Women all over the world fight to keep fit, trying to make it desired and seductive: to tighten waist, push up bosom, hide the lows and show the highs. Traditional feminity considers a woman as an object of man’s fantasies and wishes. Her own wishes are not taken into account – she has to look feminine just because she is a woman. Traditional feminity assumes the dress to outline the figure, and mini skirts, low-necked dresses, transparent fabrics, high-heeled shoes, heavy make-up and complex hairstyles. Traditional feminity drives a woman in the framework of beauty standards. Traditional feminity is based on a ban for being yourself. 

 

New feminity didn’t appear occasionally. Social conditions have changed, and a woman from an object, decorating a man’s life, turned into an owner of her life. She has no need to adapt to anyone’s beauty stereotypes: she managers her time and finances and makes decisions on her own. It’s impossible to impose anything on her, she can’t be controlled or directed.

Probably, such readiness not to be obey or to submit frightens the men who think that new feminity makes women look ugly. Such a new feminity doesn’t make women ugly, but liberates them.

For a new life a woman need new outfits, corresponding to the spirit of time and not hindering the moves or making her look like a doll. It doesn’t outline the figure or have superfluous decoration. There is much space between body and fabrics, dresses seem to be baggy and a little bit oversized as it should be.  It makes you feel self-confident, relaxed  and comfortable.

Sexuality of this style is calm and unobtrusive. A woman seems to show a part of a naked body occasionally: a strap slided off uncovers the shoulder, a leg is exposed in the skirt’s cut while going. Nothing is done on purpose, nobody aims to attract anyone’s attention and please anyone. Designers of this direction treat a woman with delicacy, tenderness and a great respect. Perhaps, because they are all women and realize what it means to be a woman in contemporary world? It’s difficult to be active, be in time everywhere, take upon oneself responsibility, make career and care about one’s family in uncomfortable clothes and high-heeled shoes.

The new femininity declines artificiality in appearance. Almost all the designers have chosen similar model styling: simple hairdos, natural hair laying (as if nobody laid it down) and nude make-up. Such a woman will have never a thought about artificial eyelashes or nails.

The main collision of Belarusian Fashion Week takes place between designers of old and new feminity. The matter is not in good or bad. A conversation in the framework of good / bad categories is inappropriate, as the professionals work in both directions. The deal is that one beauty concept has become obsolete and right now is being replaced for the new one. On the side of traditional feminity are financial resources, sales, consumers and investments. On the side of a new feminity is time, as it’s a future trend.

 

Text and photos by TUT.by