For trendy twenty-somethings today, this is reason enough to sport spunky feline attire.
I spent my weekend photographing friends who owned cat-related clothing or accessories. It's safe to say it was the best weekend of my life.
But seriously, why all the cat enthusiasm?!
After studying this question with the utmost seriousness, I came to the following conclusion: Cat-related fashion trends reflect this generation's quirk and independence. Quirk helps display self confidence, and independence facilitates empowerment.
Males and females each represent these qualities as they wear feline attire. However, I will focus on how males show quirk, and females embrace independence.
In my photographs, I used the rule of thirds and bilateral symmetry as necessary to call attention to the cat fashion items in each photo. I also made sure to photograph both males and females, since I address cat fashion trends for each gender.
For convenience, I will use the term "cat-shirt-wearer" to describe an individual who wears any clothing or accessories of the feline variety.
(1) QUIRK FACTOR: The male cat-shirt-wearer
>^..^< When someone wears a shirt or sweater with a giant cat face on it, they send the message loudly and clearly that they do not take themselves too seriously.
Cat-shirt-wearers embrace their playful side. They don't fear fun, as non-cat-shirt-wearers often do.
I kid. Kind of. You see, there exists an inverse relationship between one's capacity for fun and how seriously they take themselves.
Non-cat-shirt-wearers often take themselves too seriously. By doing so, they let their concern for their image impair their ability to let loose and freely enjoy themselves. Conversely, cat-shirt-wearers take themselves less seriously. This helps them remain open to many forms of fun, no matter how ridiculous they may look in the process.
>^..^< While both males and females demonstrate their quirkiness through cat fashion, I feel that male cat-shirt-wearers express their quirk more fully.
Cats are generally regarded as feminine creatures. When a man dawns a cat shirt or sweater, he renders himself vulnerable to the world's judgment. Onlookers could question his masculinity. But the male cat-shirt-wearer's greatest ally is his quirky confidence.
I respect the male cat-shirt-wearer because I believe he is secure in his manhood.
(2) INDEPENDENCE AND POWER: The female feline>^..^< The female cat-shirt-wearer values independence and power. Think about it. House cats are independent, intelligent creatures. Wild cats are autonomous, powerful specimens.
Women feel empowered when they associate themselves with cats. This may be why we see so many females rocking feline-related clothes, cat-eye makeup and leggings that make them appear more cat-like. And empowering cat fashion trends make even more sense in today's context, where feminism is at the fore.
I view many cat fashion trends as a vehicle for what I like to call "pretty feminism." Advocates of pretty feminism value female power and independence. Reasonable pretty feminists believe a woman's beauty need not be sacrificed for power and independence. Radical pretty feminists believe women can empower themselves and conquer imposed hypersexualization by men by choosing to hypersexualize themselves. Miley Cyrus, anyone?Whichever pretty feminist approach one subscribes to, the cat is the perfect icon, with its fierce independence and striking beauty.
t h i n g s t o t h i n k a b o u t :
Men: Are you secure enough to wear a cat shirt?
Women: Do your views align or conflict with those of pretty feminism?
((find tons more cat fashion photos from my shoots here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.586613704738249.1073741833.359573364108952&type=1 ))
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