Everything we wear is connected to the wider world and culture of fashion.
Like any self-respecting magazine media major, I am obsessed with “The Devil Wears Prada.” The novel by Lauren Weisberger inspired the movie starring Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep, and has become an endlessly quotable favorite.
Whenever I think of that movie, I think of Meryl Streep’s iconic monologue about cerulean blue. She’s meant to be the villain, but everything she says in this scene is absolutely right.
She notes that the sweater Anne Hathaway’s character is wearing isn’t simply blue, but cerulean. She then goes on to explain this is because of a trendsetting 2002 collection by Oscar de la Renta in which the color featured heavily in his show. This inspired other designers, then copycats in the retail market, until finally, it ended up being worn as a sweater by Anne Hathaway’s character, who claims to not be too interested in high fashion.
Streep ends by saying: “That blue represents millions of dollars and countless jobs, and so it’s sort of comical how you think that you’ve made a choice that exempts you from the fashion industry when, in fact, you’re wearing the sweater that was selected for you by the people in this room.”W
Of course, the cerulean monologue is much better when you can see the unstoppable force that is Meryl Streep deliver it, but trust me when I tell you: that last line packs a punch.
What we wear, no matter our taste or style, is connected to the wider world of fashion. And fashion is inspired by life, which imitates art, and vice versa. It’s a wonderful cycle to be a part of.
This semester, Ball Bearings is examining clothing. Not just high fashion, but how what we wear is connected to who we are. In this first online edition, we explore the debate around school uniforms, and dive into whether or not they actually encourage equality (Pretty in Plaid: The School Uniform Debate). We also talked to a college student who runs a part-time Instagram thrift business, curating her finds to clientele across the country (Shopping and Selling Sustainably on Instagram). Lastly, we’ll take a look at modest fashion, and how the market is growing (To Bare or Not To Bare).
I’m so excited for you to read this issue. Grab your favorite cerulean blanket, curl up, and enjoy!
