--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've struggled with that over the years…" description: "\"I've struggled with that over the years: Is fashion relevant? Is it frivolous? Is it trivial? Because I give so much of my essence to it, as do everybo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/507/kenneth-cole-3800_essence_i-ve-struggled-with-that-over-the-years_243823.jpg" --- # I've struggled with that over the years: Is fashion… ![“I've struggled with that over the years: Is fashion relevant? Is it frivolous? Is it trivial? Because I give so much of my essence to it, as do everybody I work with.” quote by Kenneth Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/507/kenneth-cole-3800_essence_i-ve-struggled-with-that-over-the-years_243823.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/507/kenneth-cole-3800_essence_i-ve-struggled-with-that-over-the-years_243823.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/507/kenneth-cole-3800_essence_i-ve-struggled-with-that-over-the-years_243823.jpg) > “I've struggled with that over the years: Is fashion relevant? Is it frivolous? Is it trivial? Because I give so much of my essence to it, as do everybody I work with.” [Kenneth Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-cole/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Explores the tension between fashion’s relevance and its perceived frivolity, acknowledging personal investment. **In simple terms:** Fashion is both vital and trivial. Key Takeaway Balance creativity with purpose. Themes fashion identity creativity Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical critical When to use this quote - design process - brand development - personal expression Key Concepts aesthetic value industry impact Questions to Reflect On - Is fashion a necessary art form? - How can fashion be more inclusive? A Different Perspective Fashion can be unsustainable and exclusionary. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Essence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/essence/) [Fashion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fashion/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [Fashion could be more relevant. It needs to be understood rather than just consumed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefano-pilati/fashion-could-be-more-relevant-it-needs-to-be-understood-rather-than/) Stefano Pilati > [Everybody's talking about the new democratic world and whether high fashion is relevant. But without high there is no low. I don't like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alber-elbaz/everybody-s-talking-about-the-new-democratic-world-and-whether-high/) [Alber Elbaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alber-elbaz/) > [In the last couple of years, fashion's gotten a lot safer. People are really pulling back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-cojocaru/in-the-last-couple-of-years-fashion-s-gotten-a-lot-safer-people-are/) [Steven Cojocaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-cojocaru/) > [I dont want to be this years fashion. I want to be forever. The kinds of clothes I design are the kinds of clothes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-lauren/i-dont-want-to-be-this-years-fashion-i-want-to-be-forever-the-kinds/) [Ralph Lauren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-lauren/) > [I haven't spent years in fashion making friends and making enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dasha-zhukova/i-haven-t-spent-years-in-fashion-making-friends-and-making-enemies/) [Dasha Zhukova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dasha-zhukova/) > [I wish we could go back to the time when the private lives of our public figures were relevant only if they directly affected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-wish-we-could-go-back-to-the-time-when-the-private-lives-of-our/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [For me, the most relevant factor in my ability to perform well on the rock has to do with my love of climbing. After…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-hill/for-me-the-most-relevant-factor-in-my-ability-to-perform-well-on-the/) [Lynn Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-hill/) > [There's a lot of activism that doesn't deal with empowerment, and you have to empower yourself in order to be relevant to any type…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-kweli/there-s-a-lot-of-activism-that-doesn-t-deal-with-empowerment-and-you/) [Talib Kweli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-kweli/) > [I've definitely learned that if you want to have power as a woman in Shakespeare's time, and it's still relevant today, that you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-barnett/i-ve-definitely-learned-that-if-you-want-to-have-power-as-a-woman-in/) [Samuel Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-barnett/) > [But I would say if the Security Council is only relevant if it agrees with the United States, then we have come a long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-blix/but-i-would-say-if-the-security-council-is-only-relevant-if-it-agrees/) [Hans Blix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-blix/) > [The sense that in this universe we are treated as strangers, the longing to be acknowledged, to meet with some response, to bridge some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-sense-that-in-this-universe-we-are-treated-as-strangers-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I don't think generally speaking, there are a lot of innovators and inventors. Many of the designers take what exists already and update it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-hilfiger/i-don-t-think-generally-speaking-there-are-a-lot-of-innovators-and/) [Tommy Hilfiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-hilfiger/) > [Majority decisions tend to be made without engaging the systematic thought and critical thinking skills of the individuals in the group. Given the force…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/majority-decisions-tend-to-be-made-without-engaging-the-systematic/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Ideal for the child and society in the best of times, Rudolf Steiner's brilliant process of education is critically needed and profoundly relevant now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-chilton-pearce/ideal-for-the-child-and-society-in-the-best-of-times-rudolf-steiner-s/) [Joseph Chilton Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-chilton-pearce/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) ## More by Kenneth Cole > [People have a whole lot more choices than they've had in the past, and I have only earned the right to be considered -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-cole/people-have-a-whole-lot-more-choices-than-they-ve-had-in-the-past-and/) [Kenneth Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-cole/) > [Twitter is a very powerful platform for adversarial feedback.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-cole/twitter-is-a-very-powerful-platform-for-adversarial-feedback/) [Kenneth Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-cole/) > [I've come to realize nobody needs what we sell. There's hardly a woman who needs another pair of black shoes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-cole/i-ve-come-to-realize-nobody-needs-what-we-sell-there-s-hardly-a-woman/) [Kenneth Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-cole/) > [I never really had long range plans. I take one season at a time, every day at a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-cole/i-never-really-had-long-range-plans-i-take-one-season-at-a-time-every/) [Kenneth Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-cole/) > [After working with my father for two years, we started Candie's, a line of imported shoes from Italy. Then in 1982 I set out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-cole/after-working-with-my-father-for-two-years-we-started-candie-s-a-line/) [Kenneth Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-cole/) > [It's not about me, it's about you, the customer. And if I am effective in making what I do about you, and I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-cole/it-s-not-about-me-it-s-about-you-the-customer-and-if-i-am-effective/) [Kenneth Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-cole/) > [Often people ask me about getting involved in service and philanthropy, and my first advice is: Make sure it's real and it's transparent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-cole/often-people-ask-me-about-getting-involved-in-service-and/) [Kenneth Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-cole/) > [When I first fell in love with Maria, it was because she really cares about things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-cole/when-i-first-fell-in-love-with-maria-it-was-because-she-really-cares/) [Kenneth Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-cole/) > [My first AIDS campaign was in 1985. There was this dark cloud, everybody was socially inspired - we hadn't seen social consciousness like that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-cole/my-first-aids-campaign-was-in-1985-there-was-this-dark-cloud/) [Kenneth Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-cole/) > [I'm also on the Board at Sundance, so I've seen witnessed first hand the power of independent storytelling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-cole/i-m-also-on-the-board-at-sundance-so-i-ve-seen-witnessed-first-hand/) [Kenneth Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-cole/) > [I've realized that people come to the brand not just for the products we make, but because of what we stand for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-cole/i-ve-realized-that-people-come-to-the-brand-not-just-for-the-products/) [Kenneth Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-cole/) > [The best solution is very much the least expensive and most creative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-cole/the-best-solution-is-very-much-the-least-expensive-and-most-creative/) [Kenneth Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-cole/) > [Over the years, I have found a way to use this business and this platform to talk with people about important issues. To the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-cole/over-the-years-i-have-found-a-way-to-use-this-business-and-this/) [Kenneth Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-cole/) > [This is what I wanted the business to be when I started it: a lot of black, a lot of luxurious materials, and modern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-cole/this-is-what-i-wanted-the-business-to-be-when-i-started-it-a-lot-of/) [Kenneth Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-cole/) > [Shoes are by far the most complicated thing to bring to market. It's not just design. You need engineering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-cole/shoes-are-by-far-the-most-complicated-thing-to-bring-to-market-it-s/) [Kenneth Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-cole/) [Explore all 122 Kenneth Cole quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-cole/) ## More Essence quotes > [“THE ESSENCE OF YOUR DESIRE IS A FEELING”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-laporte/the-essence-of-your-desire-is-a-feeling/) [Danielle LaPorte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-laporte/) > [Everything in dancing is style, allusion, the essence of many thoughts and feelings. The abstraction of many moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-ailey/everything-in-dancing-is-style-allusion-the-essence-of-many-thoughts/) [Alvin Ailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvin-ailey/) > [Spiritually, life is a festival, a celebration. Joy is of the essence of life;](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agnivesh/spiritually-life-is-a-festival-a-celebration-joy-is-of-the-essence-of/) [Agnivesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agnivesh/) > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/) [Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/) > [It's all the unwordable things one wants to write about, just as it's all the unformable things one wants to paint - essence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-carr/it-s-all-the-unwordable-things-one-wants-to-write-about-just-as-it-s/) [Emily Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-carr/) > [In essence, I see the value of journalism as resting in a twofold mission: informing the public of accurate and vital information, and its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-greenwald/in-essence-i-see-the-value-of-journalism-as-resting-in-a-twofold/) [Glenn Greenwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-greenwald/) > [Curiosity is the essence of human existence. 'Who are we? Where are we? Where do we come from? Where are we going?'... I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/curiosity-is-the-essence-of-human-existence-who-are-we-where-are-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The essence of worldliness is exclusion of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-jacobsen/the-essence-of-worldliness-is-exclusion-of-god/) [Henry Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-jacobsen/) > [I am alive. Up here with the song of the engine and the air whispering on my face as the sunlight and shadows play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-coonts/i-am-alive-up-here-with-the-song-of-the-engine-and-the-air-whispering/) [Stephen Coonts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-coonts/) > [The essence of Christianity...is an ever-new encounter with... the God who speaks to us, who approaches us and who befriends us!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/the-essence-of-christianity-is-an-ever-new-encounter-with-the-god-who/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [The wisdom or the essence of Guru Tattwa is a balance. Like when you maintain a plant, if you do not give it water…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmala-srivastava/the-wisdom-or-the-essence-of-guru-tattwa-is-a-balance-like-when-you/) [Nirmala Srivastava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmala-srivastava/) > [This is the pathless path - returning to where you were initially before you got lost. The deepest truth in you is where the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/this-is-the-pathless-path-returning-to-where-you-were-initially/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [Communism... is the genuine resolution of the antagonism between man and nature and between man and man; it is the true resolution of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/communism-is-the-genuine-resolution-of-the-antagonism-between-man-and/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [I'm not so much in the future as always in the present. The future always takes care of itself. What I do now with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonas-mekas/i-m-not-so-much-in-the-future-as-always-in-the-present-the-future/) [Jonas Mekas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonas-mekas/) > [The essence of the stage is concentration and penetration. Of the screen action, movement, sweep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elia-kazan/the-essence-of-the-stage-is-concentration-and-penetration-of-the/) [Elia Kazan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elia-kazan/) [Browse all 3,115 Essence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/essence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've struggled with that over the years: Is fashion relevant? Is it frivolous? Is it trivial? 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