OITNB: A REFRESHING ABSENCE OF FASHION INSPO
Orange is the New Black may be a comedy-drama show about a woman’s federal correctional facility, but I think it can teach us a thing or two about being sustainable with fashion. *mild spoilers*
I’ve been spending the majority of my free time re-watching Orange is the New Black. In fact, in the past couple of weeks, I’ve ploughed through the entire 7 seasons.
Every time I watch it, I find myself imagining what I would be like if I were sent to prison. I like to think that I would be okay, that perhaps I would even use the time to take up a new hobby or get fit. But I know for a fact that this is a BIG LIE. Before I even make it through the doors, I would likely be having a meltdown over the mere thought of wearing an assigned uniform (look, I know that theoretically if I'm in prison it’s clear I probably have bigger issues to worry about, but orange just really isn’t my colour).
However, that’s not the only thing I think about. I think about how utterly refreshing it is to watch a show that isn’t loaded with fashion inspo (well… that is unless orange jumpsuits or khaki scrubs are your thing). I think it is a rarity to find women-centric shows nowadays that aren’t trying to sell you the latest fashion trends or play a role in creating them.
By no means is fashion entirely absent from OITNB. I mean Alex Vause, with her ICONIC black Miu-Miu-esque skinny glasses, was ahead of Bella Hadid herself. Lorna Morello uses her contraband red lipstick to set herself apart from all the other women, and after her release, Aleida Diaz tries to regain her sense of self by integrating leopard print and heels into nearly all her outfits.
It is fascinating to see how with one small manipulation of fabric, the addition of a unique accessory or a touch of makeup these women create an identity for themselves, in an environment that tries to strip them of one. In an environment where they are all assigned the collective identity of the felon, criminal, offender, or delinquent, through their crafty alterations or the way they carry themselves, we are able to see them for who they are.
I think this resourcefulness is something we can all learn from.
Maybe we don’t need a whole new wardrobe, perhaps we just need to find that one garment that is so ‘us’, that it is hard to believe that it was ever made for anyone else to wear (for me it would have to be my penny lane coat).
I think we have been tricked by social media, magazines and society in general into thinking that in order to stand out we need to wear a different outfit every day of the week, but as OITNB shows this just isn’t the case. We learn to see these women as individuals and grow to understand their style even though they are all dressed identically.
Don’t get it twisted, I am by no means suggesting that we should all be given a uniform like we are living under some sort of hellish dictatorship. BUT I do think It would be a good idea, for us to implement some of the sustainable fashion strategies that are unintentionally carried out in OITNB.
P.S. If you didn’t cry at Season 4 Episode 12, did you really watch OITNB?
