Does Happiness Have a Place in Fashion?
Does Happiness Have a Place in Fashion?
This past weekend I read a fascinating article on The Cut where they interviewed stylist Law Roach after he recently announced his retirement from styling. There were so many touchpoints in this interview that resonated with my soul in ways I didn’t expect. The main thing being that he admitted he was no longer happy in his job. That blunt. That simple. He talked about happiness (or lack there of), and he talked about walking away. (Insert brain-exploding emoji here).
Anyone in the fashion industry no matter where on the ladder or spectrum you are will rarely talk about happiness. It’s simply not considered to be a requirement for the industry. I mean, doesn’t the glitz, glamour, and free clothes/trips account for this happiness?
Nope.
Having managed talent (from A-list celebrities, to YouTubers, to TikTok sensations, to your favorite Instagram fashionistas) as long as I have, I’ve seen a thing or two about the entertainment and fashion industry and how happiness plays (or doesn’t play) a role in someone’s life. It’s a warped perception tangled in a web of social media postings that rarely reflect what the actual talent feels or what they’re really going through. I’ve done crisis management for people going through nasty divorces, cancer scares, spousal misconduct, miscarriages, and everything in between only to find that their life on social media is “f*cking fabulous!” #DontYouWishYouHadMyLife
Having XXX of followers doesn’t buy happiness. Sure, it’s cool to think that strangers look up to you and deem you worthy of that “Follow” button, but what good is it if you’re not being your authentic self online? Furthermore, what does it say about your mental health if you've converted yourself into a show-monkey constantly trying to impress on online community that you may not even be that engaged with.
Luxury items doesn’t buy happiness. Sure, it’s fabulous being able to afford whatever it is your little heart desires and be able to wear something that is more exclusive, but what good is that if your desires are never satisfied? You buy one bag only to be desiring another one five days later.
Money doesn’t buy happiness. Sure, it buys you more options and can allow you a bit more freedom, but all of that is moot if you’re a slave to money. If you sacrifice your health or family for money. It’s counterintuitive and asinine.
Life is about checks and balances - something that social media apparently seems to be void of. When I work with my influencers, I make it a steady point to bring those checks and balances to the forefront. Simply asking them, “Are you happy?” I find that more times than not I’m met with a blank stare followed by a “Yeah of course….” followed by a list of accomplishments. I then have to digress, and ask again ((ahem)) “No really, are you happy? How can I help in that journey?”
So now I ask you: