Gertie MacDowell reviewed Fluid: A Fashion Revolution by Harris Reed
Ultimately uninspring (at least for me)
2 stars
Perhaps I was looking for more out of this book than what I actually got. If you're in any way familiar with gender fluidity, fashion, or even the tastes of Generation Z, it's unlikely you'll find this book particularly informative or inspiring. It is a treatise of sorts on gender fluidity, but the book is neither a comprehensive history or a critical look at it in the context of contemporary society. Rather, it is a coffee table book all about Reed and his work.
That isn't surprising given the author, but then it does fall into the trap of many books from those in the fashion world where they attempt to (and believe they do) extrapolate their perceptions into wider society but in reality never leave the walled garden of the fashion industry. It is one thing to defy expectations on the catwalk and something entirely different to do it …
Perhaps I was looking for more out of this book than what I actually got. If you're in any way familiar with gender fluidity, fashion, or even the tastes of Generation Z, it's unlikely you'll find this book particularly informative or inspiring. It is a treatise of sorts on gender fluidity, but the book is neither a comprehensive history or a critical look at it in the context of contemporary society. Rather, it is a coffee table book all about Reed and his work.
That isn't surprising given the author, but then it does fall into the trap of many books from those in the fashion world where they attempt to (and believe they do) extrapolate their perceptions into wider society but in reality never leave the walled garden of the fashion industry. It is one thing to defy expectations on the catwalk and something entirely different to do it in say, an office. Reed's book doesn't attempt to tackle the latter and so it comes across as yet another fashionista waxing lyrical on big social and cultural questions but who ultimately can't provide any answers that work outside of the fashion world and its inhabitants.
I really wanted to add this tome to my bookshelf but it unfortunately doesn't provide enough food for thought to make it worthwhile.