#Artful rebel jeans plus#
#Artful rebel jeans series#

A person’s clothing and possessions allowed strangers to assess their place on the social ladder with only a glance. Consumer goods of course fit this bill well. The growth of large, anonymous cities made the display of social signals that could be read quickly and from a distance more important than ever. Once wealth had been attained, it was demonstrated materially to others. A reputation for moral virtue gave a man status in and of itself - even before it had been turned into economic success - as it was considered a valuable resource that could someday be transformed into such success. A man with a sullied reputation would have trouble furnishing the letters of recommendation that were often necessary to be hired for many jobs. And in many ways they were, and not simply for the practical benefits a disciplined work ethic provided. Qualities like industry, frugality, and self-control were thought to be prerequisites to getting ahead. This was the era of the Victorian honor code, in which economic success was connected to moral rectitude. Wealth conveyed status not simply for its resource value alone, but also because of the traits and behaviors that society supposed undergirded its attainment.

But typically even creative and intellectual types desired mainstream fame, and the material rewards that came with it. Certainly artists, philosophers, and scientists who brought great works and new knowledge to society, and yet weren’t materially rich, were honored and recognized. While the 19 th century saw the rise of new paths to status, the prerequisite of that status remained fairly steady and one-dimensional: wealth. 19 th Century to the 1950s: Traditional Hierarchal Status Today we’ll take you on a tour through these stages of status evolution, and explore how being “cool” became the major preoccupation of the 20th century. Professor of philosophy Steven Quartz argues that the pathways of status moved through 3 stages during this time: from hierarchical, to oppositional, to pluralistic. This diversification kicked off a transformation in the meaning and routes to status that would fairly explode over the course of the next century. New industries and career options multiplied during the 19th century, allowing men with varying talents to attain status in an expanding number of niches. Whereas prior to the 18 th century, status had largely been hoarded by a few families who had amassed great riches, and passed those resources on from generation to generation, more paths to power and wealth slowly began to develop. Urbanization, Christianity, monogamy, and the Enlightenment all contributed to the development of a greater sense of self and individuality, and the weakening of the walls of status hierarchy.

#Artful rebel jeans series#

In our previous article in this series on male status, we discussed some of the forces that have shaped the cultural evolution of status in the West. This series aims to help men understand the way status affects our behavior, and even physiology, so we can mitigate its ill effects, harness its positive ones, and generally get a handle on how best to manage its place in our lives. BTW, some of these brands aren't plus-size exclusive, but the diverse size ranges of popular brands are expanding, so we had to include those gems.Welcome back to our series on male status. Having been fat my entire life and also having had my fair share of meltdowns over a pair of jeans, I know that shopping can be a fiasco, so I spoke with NYC Personal Stylist and Capsule Wardrobe Expert, Bee Stuart to hunt down the best plus-size clothing brands.

Thankfully, the world of fat, plus-size, and curvy fashion is growing, and buying clothes-from specialized suits and dresses to a good cotton tee-shirt-is becoming increasingly available. Having options feels like the bare minimum.

#Artful rebel jeans plus#

Additionally, young designers are taking the struggle of finding trendy-and vintage-clothes in large sizes into their own hands with indie brands and plus size-friendly hubs emerging on Instagram and TikTok, as well as targeted e-commerce sites.Įveryone should be able to experience the creative side of fashion and feel included, whether you know your style or are currently trying to expand on it. Department stores like Nordstrom and Target are rapidly expanding to offer extended sizes in both their native brands and the brands offered in their online (and in-store) selections.

But as we expand what being fat means in fashion and everyday living, we should also cater to styles that make people feel like they’re part of the conversation.