24
Jun
Tight Jeans? Not in Indonesia
by Danielle Francis
0 Comments | Posted by thatgirl in Uncategorized
Image courtesy of Thaindian.com
Prejudice regarding what women can wear is a fascinating topic that courses through various cultures. From the religious burqas fashioned by women of the Islamic faith to the burdensome corsets popular during the Elizabethan era. Fashion has been and continues to be used to form a standard image of what women are supposed to be, locking many in the oppressive shackles of uniformity.
Ironically fashion is the quintessential breeding ground of creativity and freedom. It’s a visual representation of who we are or believe ourselves to be.
Controlling a woman’s decision-making in regards to her fashion really gets under my skin. It’s like Catholic school 24/7. In my world, clothing mandates would not exist.
Unfortunately, the Indonesian government disagrees. They’re one of the latest systems to implement strict policies on female apparel.
In the province of Aceh, police have distributed a staggering 20,000 long skirts for female citizens to wear.
The “tight pants ban” as it is called has targeted women who wear jeans. Enforcers of the law confiscate lawbreakers’ pants and replace them with skirts — really long ones. The appropriateness of a female’s attire is up to the discretion of the commanding officer.
The ban also affects retail operations. Many shops are now prohibited from selling any type of pant-like garment to female customers. Clothing that seems revealing or sensual also is prohibited. Merchants caught selling forbidden articles would face retraction of their commerce license.
Women are forced to go through forceful preaching from Islamic ministers and intense questioning when stopped. For some reason denim spells terrorist to Islamic officials. If caught more than three times in contempt of the law, ladies will be sent to detention. I’m serious about these Catholic school parallels.
On the bright side I suppose, the law only refers to Muslim practitioners. The government is just asking those of other faiths to be tolerant of their choices. Again, irony at its best. The Indonesian administration wants non-Muslims to respect their blatant disrespect for female rights.
The two-month long crusade is said to dictate to ancient Shari law, a code followed devoutly by those of Muslim faith, a large percentage of Aceh’s population. Officials hope to strengthen moral values in one of the world’s most populace Muslim districts.
But Islamic law is not imposed throughout the entire island. Although bans on alcohol, public displays of affection amongst other behaviors have been enacted.
Recent polls show, however, the new restrictions aren’t sitting too well with the majority of citizens.
6
Apr
Fashion Corner with Vivien B. and Ing S.
by Sophia Hsu
0 Comments | Posted by thatgirl in 21st Century Bellist, All Dolled Up
Fashion Divas: Vivien B. and Ing S.
Hometown: Jakarta, Indonesia
Fashion Icon: Nicole Ritchie, Mary-Kate Olsen
The Look: The Sunshine Twins
Viven’s words: “I like clothes that are simple but interesting. For instance, a plain white shirt can look really cool if you just add a bright scarf or some big jewelry.”
Ing’s words: “I don’t have a specific style that I stick with. I decide what to wear based on what’s comfortable and what I feel like that day.”
Our Words: Admittedly, the adorable little dogs caught our eyes first. But when we saw that their owners’ outfits were just as delightful, we knew we had to stop them for a picture. These fashion students prove that you don’t have to sacrifice style for comfort. Their airy cotton dresses can’t be any easier to wear. And with just a few simple accessories, these ladies look like they just stepped off the runway. Nothing got lost in translation here – as these girls demonstrate, style crosses all borders.
The Breakdown
Vivien (left):
- Dress: Indonesia
- Sunglasses: Ray-ban
- Hat: Forever 21
- Bangles: Indonesia
Ing (right):
- Dress: Victoria’s Secret
- Cardigan: Singapore
- Sandals: Tory Burch
- Sunglasses: street vendor