Observing fashion, sometimes there are things that simply seem to be out of this world...literally... or at least, out of THIS world, maybe not THAT world. Maybe because fashion, or art, is not to be understood in such simple ways.
Being in Indonesia, I have seen some interesting examples, whether it is based on culture, beliefs, what is 'in' at the moment, or simply taste.
I was kind of having a minor 'enlightment' last October, when I had the fortune of travelling to Germany and Belgium (okay...okay...it was Brussels....), during a beautiful autumn season....oh wow, there seems to be something behind the way certain people or nations dress..hm?
I still vividly remember a group of my highschool friends, boys most of them..(or all...?? hm...) coming up with a signature 'mafia' coat.... Do you know what I mean? These black, long coats which cover most of the wearer's body. And somehow, these coats brought an aura of "coolness" around them so that these guys behaved really "cool" when they were wearing it...hm... Of course, coolness is in the eye of the beholder, so without much ado, the board of teachers banned them from wearing it during school hours, hehehe.... I guess a bunch of "cool" young men is not too cool for a group of highschool teachers in Indonesia. Maybe in their mind, they were worried that wearing such a warm outfit will help boiling these students' heads to unusable degree in this tropical country.
That October, almost a decade after being acquintanced with the legendary "mafia coat", being in the middle of all those people rushing to get away from the biting autumn wind, a little light bulb switched on in my little head, and all of a sudden I found that somewhere, sometime, the "mafia coat" of my younger years memories really makes sense. Fighting against the autumn wind, these long coats really help to ward off cold wind seeping between the fabric of the jeans, for example. I really think it is a cool invention ;) though I know it will never be flaterring for my body shape, but hey.... chic or frostbite, huh?
Another "enlightment" came with the last visit to Sana'a, Yemen. Arming myself with a bunch of long sleeved-loose blouses and matching scarves, I welcomed myself to the ancient land of the Bedouins. Home to the ancient skyscrapers of Sana'a, and inhabited 99% percent by Muslims, I was hoping my choice of clothing was modest enough for the local taste.
And the choices were wisely made. Although culturally I did not go into the full measure of adopting the full length black abaya, I think I got by just fine. And in the almost barren land of Yemen which has been waiting for a delayed short rainy season, I found a new crush on scarves. Oh, how wonderful these flimsy, colourful pieces of fabric are... I found the joy and meaning in draping a piece of this fashion accessory around my neck, and quickly pulling it over my head under the harsh heat and glare of the desert sun.
And as the temperature dropped significantly when evening falls, the scarf helped me to stay cozy as I was criss-crossing, big-eyed, through the labyrinthine network of the Old Sana'a market. The evening wind was quite merciless, whizzing around the alleys between the tall buildings which comprised the UNESCO World Heritage site. The extra layer of clothes was a welcomed addition into my evening adventure outfit.
Hoho.... I am not pretending to be one of the local ladies with 'cador' across their faces (they have exceptionally beautiful big eyes, by the way.....), but here is also where a scarf comes handy. Dusty winds and renovation. :) A part of the museum we visited was under renovation, and man.... you simply cannot imagine the amount of dust in the wake of the workers.
Understanding, what for me is, a fashion will really make sense when it is put into a certain context. The 'rebellious' mafia coat comes to life and essence under the cold whispers of European autumn wind, and loose fitting, covered blouses and head scarf becomes the best invention in the world when it comes to the desert wind and sun.
Well, a personal lesson. Not important, but nonetheless an 'enlightment' for me...
Banda Aceh, May 8, 2008
Indonesian version: klik di sini
