Unconscious Bias

Unconscious bias (also known as implicit bias) refers to unconscious forms of discrimination and stereotyping based on race, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, ability, age, and so on. It differs from cognitive bias, which is a predictable pattern of mental errors that result in us misperceiving reality and, as a result, deviating away from the most likely way of reaching our goals. 

PT

First things first: I think this collection is fantastic. Even without the James Baldwin quotes or Mos Def being fabulous. I would wear everything Virgil would give me except one or three things (you'll see why, not even I am THAT avant-garde! Wearing Chicago? No, thanks). But what called my attention was that Virgil Abloh apparently created the collection while taking into account what Unconscious Bias is. Abloh (a Chicago boy!) has always been very cerebral with his collections and that has made me a fan. Not that I could ever buy any of his pieces (I'm more of a Zara/H&M kind of guy, now that TOPMAN is off the list in the US) but I look at him for inspiration.  And inspiration can come from the least expected sources. Look at what he has to say about this collection:

“The collection strives to illuminate and neutralise the prejudice we create around people by keeping the dress codes related to certain archetypes, but changing the human values we associate with them,”... “The message is humanitarian: creating the same opportunities, dreams, and freedom for children of all races, genders and sexualities when asked the question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

ABLOH

We all buy into an archetype. From Dave wearing his orange bib (apron?) at work,  to Bob wearing his sweaters,  to Maddie wearing those green briefs, to me wearing Anne Marie's fab knitwear, we all buy into an archetype, like it or not. Our clothes serve as signals of our identity, profession or gender. They describe us and they tell people things that we don't say. They telegraph our unconscious biases. We dress based on our presumptions about ourselves and our clothes betray our sexual proclivities, our social standing and the biases we carry from the way we have interacted (and interact) in society. Our clothes speak volumes. 

JAMESBALDWIN

No matter how pedestrian our clothes be (and maybe exactly for that same reason), we are always sending a message to those who see us in our everyday lives. It's always there: you cannot escape getting dressed in the morning.  Not even during the pandemic, where you get out of your PJ's to do a zoom meeting or you just go to work because you  have never stopped working. So when you get dressed tomorrow, even if it's to get out of your pajamas, you're dressing for someone. Even if that someone is you. Because you also need reassurance of who you are when you look in the mirror. It's useless to lie to ourselves, darling. You know the truth. And so do I.

XOXO

P.S.: Some of my favs from this collection:

The cut of the pants and the details in the coat. Those shoes!

I'd probably do without the gloves, but the rest? Yes.The detail on the waistcoat and the belt are superb.

I'd cut a bitch for this number. Everything is fabulous. Check out the kicks. Gimme. Now.

I'd wear this to go to dinner with Maddie in full drag.  We'd probably stop the fucking traffic. We would probably enjoy that. 

This is so fucking elegant. The cloth is a call to his heritage. Also, James Baldwin.

I could not choose one, so I posted them both. I love the skirt/jacket suit combo. And I could stand in the background while Dave plays his pipes. And the draping of that cloth over that hoodie with that belt? *Chef's kiss*. Styling. So fab.