Fashion Quote by Carina Chocano
““In his 1899 critique of upper-class values, The Theory of the Leisure Class, economist and philosopher Thorstein Veblen wrote, 'The dress of women goes even farther than that of men in the way of demonstrating the wearer's abstinence from productive employment. It needs no argument to enforce the generalization that the more elegant styles of feminine bonnets go even farther towards making work impossible than does the man's high hat. The woman's shoe add the so-called French heel to the evidence of enforced leisure afforded by its polish; because this high heel obviously makes any, even the simplest and most necessary manual work extremely difficult.' Women may no longer wear bonnets, and high-heeled shoes may no longer be seen as hindrances to employment, but the fact remains that 'the more elegant styles' are outside the reach of most working women. They require more money, more attention, and more leisure than the average working woman can afford. This is their point.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Theory of the Leisure Class, 1899
Veblen argues that fashionable women’s clothing, especially high heels, signals leisure and excludes working women due to cost and impracticality.
In simple terms: Fashion shows status and creates barriers for working women.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how style can reinforce social inequality.
Themes
class
fashion
gender
leisure
inequality
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
sociological
historical
When to use this quote
- workplace dress codes
- consumer culture
- gender wage gap
- fashion marketing
- activist advocacy
Key Concepts
Veblenism
conspicuous consumption
social signaling
Questions to Reflect On
- How do modern dress codes affect gender equity?
- Can style be both expressive and inclusive?
A Different Perspective
Fashion may also empower self‑expression and economic opportunity for some.
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