Kendall Jenner was spotted in Los Angeles wearing a dress (tunic) over her pants. Bustle called it “her latest bold style trend” adding it to “her resumé of style pioneering.” (Edit: Bustle changed the article and its title after this piece was posted; the original was Kendall Jenner Wears a Dress Over Pants And Somehow Manages To Make It Look Excruciatingly Cool).
Photo: Gonzalo/Bauer-Griffin/Getty Images via Refinery29
Yes, the look is chic, but to claim it’s style pioneering is fashion-Columbusing.
Trendy since the Mughal era- shalwar kameez have been #dressovermydamnpants for centuries — Hena Zuberi (@HenaZuberi) May 27, 2015
The tunic-over-pants, a style with variants in several cultures, has been around for a long time: the shalwar khameez from South Asia, the Westernized blend of kurtis over jeans and pants, and the longer shirts, tunics and dresses worn by Muslim women who dress modestly and/or wear hijab.
Reina Lewis on cultural appropriation: When white kids start wearing another culture’s clothing, then it’s fashion. #MuslimFashion — The Greene Space (@TheGreeneSpace) May 21, 2015
Bustle writes, “As easy as Jenner makes it look, the dress over pants combination can be complicated to pull off. Not everyone is used to such a bold new trend, but with a few easy steps, it’s easy to make the style your own.”
Troubling implications for modest clothing being on-trend… that means one day it won’t be fashionable/trendy anymore. #MuslimFashion — Firdaus Arastu (@Firdalish) May 21, 2015
Last week, altM EIC Asma Uddin spoke about faith, fashion, and modest attire at the Muslim/American: Fashion panel in NYC. She and the other panelists were rocking the dress-over-pants.
Behind the scenes of our @Refinery29 shoot ✨ pic.twitter.com/MqN9tkNejo — ناديا (@winniedetwa) May 27, 2015
Share your photos wearing a shalwar khameez, a kurti, or a dress over pants with us on Instagram @altmuslimah with #altmuslimahstyle #dressovermydamnpants (HT @HenaZuberi).
I mean, maybe, but are we surprised that a celebrity’s fashion choices garner more attention than a longstanding South Asian style? Do we need to do a historical/global breakdown of every “new” style that some celebrity tries out and makes famous?
It’s the claim that the look is ‘pioneering’ that’s irking everyone.