Page C02 One of the most compelling aspects of fashion is the ability of various garments to send powerful messages about identity and affiliation. That strength is one of the reasons why status clothing and accessories can be such financial windfalls for their corporate parents. A woman carrying an Hermes handbag, for instance, sends all sorts of signals about how she perceives herself and how she wishes to be seen. Adjectives such as wealthy, reserved, sophisticated and classy all come to mind when one spots these traditional handmade bags whose price equals that of a small car. But it's important to remember that fashion's language is constantly evolving.
Messages depend on context and timing as well as the background of both the sender and the receiver.
There no longer is flexibility, subtlety or even nuance. This week, the NFL announced a ban on players wearing bandannas under their helmets. The league noted that the additional headwear is troublesome. The head covering, the league worried, also makes reference to gangs and thug life, topics that the NFL would no doubt prefer to disassociate itself from considering recent run-ins many of its players have had with the judicial system. Players are free to wear skull caps in their team's colors.