There's a certain type of image that takes root in the cultural consciousness, so pervasive it becomes almost invisible. Like a beige wall you stop noticing after a while. Kendall Jenner, with her latest sartorial escapade, has managed to achieve just that. Khakis. Yes, khakis. The uniform of suburban dads and disgruntled golfers has somehow become the latest emblem of "effortless" style, thanks to Ms. Jenner and her band of impossibly toned cohorts.
Don't get me wrong, there's a certain irony to it all. The stark contrast between the humdrum reality of khakis and the aspirational sheen of a Jenner-backed brand. It's almost Warhol-ian, this elevation of the mundane. But where Warhol used soup cans and Marilyn's face to comment on consumerism and celebrity, what exactly is the message here?
Perhaps it's meant to be a wink, a nudge to the absurdity of it all. After all, we've seen this play out before. The unassuming Birkenstock, plucked from obscurity and thrust onto the feet of every fashion editor and influencer. The humble bucket hat, resurrected from its '90s grave and perched atop perfectly tousled heads. Each time, we're told it's about "ironic chic," a knowing embrace of the uncool. But how many times can we recycle irony before it loses all meaning?
And then there's the "boho" element. Those artfully draped scarves, the chunky turquoise jewelry, the obligatory straw bag – all meticulously curated to project an air of free-spiritedness. It's a familiar formula, one that's been peddled to us for seasons now. The idea that you can buy your way into a bohemian lifestyle, that a $5,000 handbag and a pair of designer sandals will somehow imbue you with the spirit of Joni Mitchell or Patti Smith.
I remember a time when "boho" actually meant something. It conjured up images of dusty flea markets, vintage finds imbued with stories, a certain disregard for trends and a fierce individuality. Now, it's just another marketing ploy, a way to sell us clothes that whisper of rebellion while whispering even louder of privilege.
Because let's be honest, there's nothing particularly rebellious about a pair of khakis, no matter how many zeros are on the price tag. They're the antithesis of rebellion, a symbol of conformity and convention. And that's perhaps the most unsettling part of this whole charade. The fact that it's being sold to us as something it's not. A subversive style statement, when in reality it's just another iteration of the same old, same old.
The truth is, true style has very little to do with what you wear and everything to do with how you wear it. It's about confidence, individuality, a certain disregard for the rules. It's about finding beauty in unexpected places, not having it spoon-fed to you by someone whose life is meticulously curated for public consumption.
So, go ahead, wear the khakis if you must. But don't mistake them for a revolution. Because the real revolution lies in rejecting the notion that you need to buy into someone else's idea of cool. It lies in embracing your own unique style, even if it means embracing the ordinary. Now that, I would argue, is truly subversive.
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