FASHION VICTIM: A fashion victim is someone who rigidly follows fashion, even it means dressing in clothes that don't suit her, or just look plain ridiculous. Fashion Victims often look like they've been "victimised" by various fashion trends or brands, as in the image above, in which poor Daniella Westbrook took a sound beating from the Burberry stick.
Fashion Victims are the people the glossy magazines aim all of those "How are YOU going to wear this season's sheer harem jumpsuit?" articles at. The rest of us would simply shrug and say, "Er, we're NOT going to wear them. Because they're sheer, harem jumpsuits, you know?" The Fashion Victim, on the other hand, takes the advice to heart. She wears the jumpsuit because she has to be seen to be "bang on trend" - a phrase developed by, and for, fashion victims.
At the centre of the Fashion Victim's belief system is the idea that anything made by a designer label is automatically good. The Fashion Victim believes this to be true because she actually has no real style of her own: she simply follows the herd and wears what she's supposed to, and, in the absence of any kind of critical faculty, is forced to depend on designer labels as a sign of good taste. The Fashion Victim uses highly visible logos to demonstrate how "fashionable" she is. This is because she tends to confuse "money" with "style".
It's also why the Fashion Victim loves Louis Vuitton:
And is happy to provide free advertising to designer brands:
(Shouldn't THEY be paying YOU to walk around with an advert on your chest? No?)
Things Fashion Victims Say:
"But it's DESIGNER!"
"This look was on ALL of the runways this season, so it MUST be good!"
"You just don't understaaaaaand!"
"That's SO last season!"
Of course, it's possible to follow fashion - or even to love logos - without being a victim of it. That's when true style comes into play...
22 comments on “Fashion Police Glossary: Fashion Victim”
Well done.
It was either in Grazia or Look magazine that they recently had a quiz about how ‘on trend’ (read: fashion victim) you are. I am apparently, hopelessly, helplessly naff and out of touch. I can live with that, however, as it means I get to walk around wearing normal trousers and avoiding harem-pant-MC-Hammer-chic
You forgot to mention clogs…
Daniella Westbrook was almost the death of Burberry when she had that photo taken! And yes Steph, I can also live without harems x
this is one of your best blogs!
Hahaha so true!
oi oi- LV has some fit bags
It’s all so true! Esp. the part about confusing money with style. Sooo many celebrities do this.
I’ve never heard of this Daniella Westbook person before today, but that picture is hilarious.
I unfortunately don’t recognise Daniella Westbrook, and when I saw that pic for the first time I thought it was a spoof (will google her in a moment).
Meanwhile, I have to wonder … surely she didn’t leave the house in that ensemble (with matching baby + pram) and think she looked smart???? She looks ridiculous!
When did Burberry become so chav-chic? Surely it’s undoing their whole market direction?
Poor Daniella, she took an absolute beating which was a bit unfair if you ake me – but what was she thinking?!?!?!
…you either have it or you don’t, or you can pay someone to ‘have it’ for you…in which case you’ll have it but you won’t really!
I like the Burberry check too but this is really too much…
this is SO my mom. I keep telling that even if it’s designer it might not be good, but she keeps trying to justify that it MUST be made for a good reason. Like that butt window Prada skirt? She thinks it must be good for /something/… ~_~
It’s so frustrating to look at the salaries some people pull for absolute crap, and then have to search and hunt and order online (and wait for) and custom-make an outfit that’s rockabilly or steampunk-ish.