Critical Thinking About Critics
The month of September is one of the most important periods in the fashion calendar. Stores and magazines across the globe feature the best and grandest of the new fall season. Meanwhile fashion capitals such as Paris and Milan are buzzing with the next season runway shows. It’s all about the NEW and SPECTACULAR.
Amongst the excited are the fashion critics. From Vogue to Tik Tok, the opinions are abundant. Some are sound, some just noise. More than ever before, it is essential to be critical of the critic. Screen only based opinions miss out on many beautiful details such as the touch of the textiles, and spirit of the collection. An image on the phone is far from the reality of the live runway. I still remember one of my first Haider Ackermann shows in Paris - I was literally amazed and on a high for the rest of the summer. Seeing the models move with the music and the clothes on center stage was magical. Thankfully there are still many excellent and qualified critics whose reputation for fair and informed judgement play a key role in moving creativity and the fashion industry forward. In fact, the good ones help us see what’s there, what’s missing, and what could be.
This is another example of where qualifications and expertise matter. It’s so important to block the noise and instead take time to carefully choose who’s opinion and influence will inform us, inspire us and most likely guide us. Navigating feedback and information is a powerful skill. As a professor this continues to be one of my teaching objectives; I aim to encourage the young, bright, and talented to think critically and be mindful about what they allow to influence them.
