With an estimated 259,342 people in attendance, this weekend’s anti-war protests grabbed the attention of many a District resident. However, none were more impressed than D.C.’s fashion gurus, who were stunned by the arrival of this season’s protest couture. Innovative yet functional, the newest collection from the demonstration crowd proved yet again that it doesn’t matter what you say, but how you look saying it.
The hardcore protester is finally allowed to be as ambivalent about his clothes as he is about the issues that incite him. Anti-war? Anti-capitalism? Anti-everything? Don’t worry about choosing one; you can finally mix and match your clothes just as you mix and match your causes.
This year has seen a definite deviation from the unwashed hippie look that has dominated the protest fashion scene for eons. Hoards of attendees at last weekend’s protests were seen sporting elaborate costumes with American themes, the most popular being Uncle Sam. Many participants took fashion into their own hands by creating T-shirts with such slogans as “Not in my name” and “Regime change now.”
The layered look has also made a triumphant comeback this winter. Perfect for those who can’t decide between skirt and pants, plaid and striped or clean and dirty, the choice is now clear: wear it all! Matching is a thing of the past, since this nomad look encourages protesters to simply wear every piece of clothing they have ever owned.
Outfits last weekend sometimes leaned towards the whimsical as protestors looked to past decades for inspiration. Remember when you were a bumblebee in your fourth grade dance recital? (Blind Melon made a music video about it in case you forgot) That costume can now help shape our country’s history as it emphasizes your convincing argument that war is bad, and therefore helps prevent the United States from invading Iraq. It’s a widely believed fact that the sillier you look, the more seriously your message will be taken.
Just as the little black dress is to Chanel, so are corduroy and dreadlocks to the protest fashion movement. Although demonstrators seem to be diversifying their wardrobes, dreadlocks and corduroy continue their reign as wardrobe staples due to their multiple functions. Any other hairstyle just wouldn’t convey your commitment to preventing war, and corduroy is comfortable and warm—perfect for a long stay in a jail cell after being hog-tied by the D.C. police for “disturbing the peace.”
Accessories have long been a mainstay of protest culture, and this season’s must-have is the cell phone. There is no better way to inform your fellow demonstrators of a new cause, or to phone in a donation to Greenpeace than to grab your trusty Nokia and dial away.
Another recurring trend is the homemade drum. Usually created out of a bucket or water jug, these D.I.Y instruments show that protestors have rhythm, too. The most fashion forward opt for the convenient duct tape strap.
For those protesters who are unsure of how to identify themselves as part of the anti-war crowd, there is a relatively inexpensive solution available. For $10 you can simply buy a shirt that tells the world that you came, you saw, you protested. Much cooler than a concert T-shirt from your favorite jam band, these shirts allow you to wear your identity on your sleeve—literally! The only casualties of capitalism here are those poor fashion victims caught without one.
As this epic weekend in the history of protest fashion drew to a close, fans of the movement were forced to console themselves with visions of the latest trends and dream of what the April round of the anti-IMF protests might bring. From the National Mall to the Naval Observatory, it has been established this weekend that protesting is definitely fashionable.
