Fashion maketh woman

17 Jun 2010

This debate took place at Westminster Central Hall on the 17th of June 2010. Click here to read the accompanying Debate of the Day, Fashion is bad for us.

Event information:

Woman is born free, but everywhere is fashion's slave. Her choices are an illusion: the fashion companies and magazines dictate her purchases to her. She feels compelled to own the latest must-have handbag, believes the key to happiness is the new bondage boot; they've told her she's worth it and without her fashion fix she feels worthless. This, at least, is the story told by those who scoff at fashion. But isn't that just sour drapes? Isn't it rather the case that the world of fashion defines the spirit and mood of the age? That the brilliant designers in the fashion houses bring vim and vigour to an otherwise pedestrian world? And that those who somehow think they¹re above it all just end up looking drab and dull?

Speakers for the motion

Paula Reed

Style Director, Grazia
Britt Lintner

Founder. Britt Lintner fashion label
Madelaine Levy

Editor-in-Chief, Bon magazine

Chair

Peter York

Social commentator and management consultant

Speakers against the motion

Grayson Perry

Turner Prize-winning artist
Susie Orbach

Psychotherapist, psychoanalyst, writer, social critic
Stephen Bayley

Broadcaster and consultant; Founding Director, Design Museum, London