Does Fashion Root in ‘Narcissism’?

Welcome to the 206th insertion of DEMUR®, an analytical series highlighting the intricacies of the artistic world and the minutiae lying within. In this episode, we reflect on fashion’s mirrored self, understanding clothing’s relationship with narcissism, vanity and external portrayal.

In an industry where handbags retail among comparable BMW price points it’s no surprise narcissism is engrained into the stylistic world. From the air-tight exclusivity of runway castings to personalized house representatives, fashion is built upon cash, influence and rarity, often attracting those with a touch of ego, or self-obsession.

However, disregarding the intricacies of social literacy and self-perception, fashion’s true roots in narcissism are found through the disbandment of external narratives. Instead of focusing on small aspects of our realities, fashion’s genuine, narcissistic self shines the brightest in the absence of outside influence and storytelling. Focusing entirely on the clothes themselves, the medium becomes internally oriented, speaking about itself, its construction, labour, textile and idea, directly to the viewer.

Void of the characteristics we typically associate with vanity, in heightened ego and an unhinged perception of self, fashion’s narcissistic traits are entirely separated from what is reflected as humans. In essence, being egoistic and indulging in fashion is entirely different from fashion’s self-obsession, and the purity of a designer’s complete indulgence towards design.

For example, Martin Margiela’s deconstructive tropes would give way to a prime instance of self-involvement. He’d welcome eyes to a garment’s assembly process by presenting inside-out dresses and wearable busts atop the runway. With an absolute focus on the garments themselves, the collection's narratives were pointed within, looking, seeing, and feeling fashion, as opposed to using cloth to tell a story of one’s own. Regardless of how self-obsessed many consumers are, fashion’s authentic narcissistic traits are shown through a collection’s indulgence in the clothes it’s presenting, not the pursuit of flex culture.