Fashion and fascism from the past to the present

What is up divas? Okay, so this week’s article is inspired by my friend’s suggestion. Fashion under fascism! This edition will look at the relationship between fashion and fascism, using historical examples and seeing how they connect to today’s world. The topic is relevant in this era of increasing conservatism. Now, I want to make clear that I’m not equating fascism to conservatism, because they are not the same. In fact, they have multiple stark ideological differences. However, certain characteristics of each ideology are similar, such as the prioritization of tradition, hierarchy and the tendency to be authoritarian. Thus, for the purpose of this article, they function similarly.

So, about fashion! We can use Italy under Mussolini’s rule as an example. Fashion was used to construct the era’s “Italian identity,” which took inspiration from the country’s “great” period, the Roman empire. Mussolini realized that clothing was a means to exert control and an avenue for propaganda. So, the Italian mythical identity manifested itself in a fashion movement of massaie rurali, meaning “ladies of the field.” Rural Italian women were advised to wear traditional peasant clothes, and with this, praised for their motherhood over any other profession. This wasn’t the only fascist fashion movement. To “complement” the men’s black shirts of the paramilitary, women often wore white blouses and black skirts. Reminiscent to a military uniform, women’s clothes under this regime could also be boxy and sleek, with sharp lines and cuts.

If you know anything about the internet “trad wife” aesthetic, you may have thought to yourself reading this that it seems a bit familiar. Well, there certainly are similarities. And, as I mentioned, conservatism (associated with this trend) does not equal fascism, but it shares qualities. Anyways, if you haven’t seen this trend going around, it’s basically women on the internet who post mainly about their traditional, stay-at-home lifestyle. They show their daily routine of baking bread daily, gardening, cooking, take care of their kids, etc. They may show a clip of their husband arriving home from work. A central aspect of these content creators is their clothes. Cottagecore-esque, with blousy dresses and skirts (typically on the modest side) operate as the mode of the “traditional wife.” The outfits are typically vintage-inspired, and elegant, if not vaguely farm-wear reminiscent (plaid, button-up, etc.).

I want to make it clear that I DO NOT think if you are a woman and you participate in this trend, you are a fascist, or even a conservative. I AM ALSO NOT DISPARAGING women in any form for wearing these clothes and living this lifestyle. It is fulfilling for many women, and that’s wonderful. However, I am simply comparing the similarities between the two ideologies and their associated fashion. I do, however, disparage the idea that this lifestyle and ideology is what every woman should aspire to. I make this point because as conservatism rises, I keep seeing and reading and hearing things that sound as though this viewpoint is rising as well. It’s problematic to assume that any one group of people should be one certain thing. Like c’mon. We are all humans, and we all have our own aspirations and dreams of what our life can be, and those aren’t things to be forced upon anyone. Anyways, I think I got a little sidetracked from the fashion part itself, but I hope this was insightful in some shape or form! Ciao!