GenQ - For the not so straight individual

To some people she is an inspiration, a glistening style icon and a role model. She is a socialite who rubs elbows with the creme de la creme of British and American celebrity circles, a woman who has tried her hand at most things going and probably a few more because her privileged background lets her. To me, however, she is living proof that all the money in the world can't buy you taste. To that end, I could not prevent the smug smile from shimmering across my face when I saw the pictures of Paris Hilton being dragged off to the slammer again this week. I think that my ill-feelings towards Miss Hilton are borne mainly out of the fact that she spends her time wandering about between red carpet events, frittering away her family's fortune and whatever other money she "earns" by doing nothing of much importance. I know in some circles she is popular, she may even be considered gay icon, but to me she is the epitome of so much that is wrong, like the fact that talentless people can get rich and famous just because of their contacts. That's the wrong kind of icon incase you were wondering. She represents a kind of hedonistic, devil-may-care class that has always existed but never really contributed. When I think back over the career that has made Miss Hilton great I only get more riled. Over the past years she has tried her hand at living in the real world through her series "The Simple Life", been skewered in "House of Wax" and released her own album; not bad for a girl who was thrust into the public eye thanks to a sordid sex tape. I'm sure thats still her most popular work. So, enough of that. You must now be wondering why I'm slamming Paris when I should be writing a fashion article. Well, it does link in. The answer is that to me one of the worst things that goes on with regards to fashion is when whole groups of people copy the styles worn by celebrities who don't have a clue. I could probably have picked any of numerous names out of a hat but Paris seemed like a prime example since she is so rich and still fails to look classy in the most expensive clothes. I've said before that one of the most important things about fashion is that it allows you to show a bit of yourself through what you wear. People should ,therefore, wear what takes their fancy and appeals to their personal tastes. Its about being an individual and proudly showing off individual, original styles. Paris probably gets up in the morning and picks her daily outfit from a range of things that a friend or would be stylist has picked out for her, I doubt she does it all herself. Thats why I find it strange that people want to copy what some celebs wear. It isn't even as if the celebrities in question have necessarily picked out what to wear themselves. It's all very strange. If we look through pictures of Paris on google or anywhere else the same kind of outfit keeps cropping up: painfully short skirts which barely cover her backside and bras or other skimpy tops that show as much cleavage as is possible without being starkers. Team these with the odd bit of over sparkly jewellery and some big tacky sunglasses and you have the Paris Hilton look. Don't forget that the colours have to be as garish as possible. The effect, whilst it may have cost thousands of dollars in Hilton's case, looks cheap and trashy. I know this is fashion snobbery, but is that really what people want to look like? Its a fashion crime. An example of a celebrity who is a good style icon would be someone like Kate Moss or Jake Shears, people who actually put together original outfits that look great. Those are the kinds of people that shoppers should take inspiration from if they need it, not someone who goes about looking like they forgot to put anything on over their underwear. Anyway, that is my rant over for this week. Be original people and you'll look great.