How political can fashion be?

The pictures of the Met Gala on Monday are rolling over on social media. Many celebrities took the opportunity to express themselves politically through statements on their clothes. Kim Kardashian came in completely veiled. We asked fashion designer Sabine Karner how she sees it …

At the Met Gala on Monday evening, the most spectacular red carpet of the year, the stars really worked hard, to get noticed. The fundraising gala usually takes place on the first Monday in May - however, like so many other things, it had to be postponed due to Covid-19. Last year it failed completely. As always, the motto was unusual, this year it was "In America: A Lexicon of Fashion" and provided plenty of room for interpretation. It moved some stars to join in Looks of past Hollywood movie greats to orient.

Billie Eilish was reminiscent of Marilyn Monroe with her dyed white blonde, wavy hair and the stunning Oscar de La Renta gown. Kendall Jenner, on the other hand, wore a Givenchy dress modeled after a look by Audrey Hepburn in the movie "My Fair Lady". Incidentally, many iconic Hepburn looks come from the said designer.

Other celebrities took advantage of the extravagant robes and the extreme media attentionof the evening to be clearly on sociopolitical issues attentive to make: The politicians Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez and Carolyn Maloney, wore the statements "Tax the Rich" (from the label Brother Vellies of the designer Aurora James) and "Equal Rights for Women" on their clothes.

Model and actress Cara Delevingne chose one Dior ensemble with "Peg the Patriarchy", Actor Dan Levy one with an ornate print on which is two men kissing and Kim Kardashian had each other from head to toe covered in black.

In the past, too, fashion was repeatedly used as a means of making a statement: We also remember the Golden Globes 2018, where the celebrity guests presented themselves as an expression of their solidarity with the Me-Too Debate All Black dressed.

We asked ourselves how political fashion can or should be - and therefore talked to the Austrian fashion designer about it.

WOMAN: When stars comment on socio-political issues - what is their drive: Real interest in changing something or self-PR?

KARNER: I believe because it is a personal concern of mine to stand up for the individual issues. When celebrities stand up for a cause, one always suspects self-interest. The other side is: if you already have a certain level of awareness, it is easier seen or heard to become. If you look at the people invited to the Met Gala - they are famous enough, so to speak. They don't need to do this for self-PR reasons.

Let's talk about Kim Kardashian's outfit. She was completely covered - currently there is no official statement as to why she did that. How do you see it

(Note:) Kardashian's look went viral - after all, it was a very unusual outfit choice that she made in her Balenciaga "dress". There are many opinions: Is the woman hiding who got rich after years of self-marketing and whose face the whole world knows, just on this evening under the guise of anonymity, in order to be deliberately "not seen"? Or is it with regard to the current one Situation in Afghanistan, where women fear for their lives, have their rights taken away and they have to cover themselves up, just ignorant?

KARNER: With no official statement from her, it's hard to say what she was getting at. The outside always expects a justification, a positioning. If there are none, the interpretations are quite free. Some say it is arrogant and ask themselves what this is about, but one could also see it in such a way that they draw attention to the situation in Afghanistan and want to show what it actually looks like and that they are against it. Perhaps we also interpret something into it that was not meant at all. I also think if you're not a fan of her anyway, you tend to criticize her.

Political expressions through clothing are not only related to the people who wear them, but also to the designer who is responsible for the creation. Should designers position themselves politically?

KARNER: Why not? Everyone is entitled to it. In general there are many controversial topics in art. So that people start looking at it grapple and discuss kick off. You can see it now - people are talking about it. I find this discourse very important.

Would you also position yourself in your designs?

KARNER: It depends what it's about. Political issues are wide-ranging. When it comes to a certain party, no. When it comes to topics that are generally important, then yes. The whole fashion industry is swimming, for example currently on the sustainability wave - which can also be seen politically. You automatically position yourself in any direction as soon as you bring a product outwards. Also by asking yourself, which women do I make my fashion for? What do I stand for as a designer? For example with regard to different body types. I want my customers to feel good, they should stand by themselves, be courageous. To a certain extent, this is also a sociopolitical statement.