Fashion
Fashion is only skin deep.
It only keeps you warm and comfortable and confident
When it’s in season,
Only moisturizes your insecurities like Vaseline
If you fit-in
But it’s counterfeiting if you can’t fit in those skinny jeans.
I can’t.
I am a cook.
See my words melt into your conscience like the fire of a first love,
Because the first time I ever said love
was when I tasted the sweetness of jollof rice, empanadas,
spring rolls, jerk chicken, sashimi, curry, linguini, croissants
Not the look of pig skin washed, ironed and padded on a shoulder of a woman in stilettos.
I am an artist.
Watch my fingers pair stars with scarfs,
Wear them like painted jewels on the soles of my boots
Where the souls of young dreamers have found refuge
Because being an artist is useless if you don’t fit those skinny jeans.
I am an engineer.
Pedal my machine like petals of individuality carelessly being tossed on the runway
Lost in the seams of denims and crop tops
Boot cuts and high lows
Open backs and distressed jeans
Because i can’t seem to fit personality into my skinny jeans
And no, I can’t fit my galaxy.
Because my ideas are a milky way of creativity and originality.
I rock paintbrushes like Versace
Craft sentences like Louis Vuitton
Bake cakes from dreams so vibrant with hope they rival
The price of Dolce & Gabbana –
I am an innovator.
No wonder they don’t sell clothes in size “me.’
They’re too distressed by my voracious spirit they tried to confine in those itty-bitty skinny jeans.
Tried to suction up my imagination in tube tops,
Pierce my ears with diamond earrings,
Fetter me in feather boas,
Plant me in wedges so inclined I was inclined to decline.
But hey, fashion is fashion.
It’s such a shame that our generation is so
Swayed by the names of these brands that they can’t
Even name the brand of slavery they are enslaved to.
They can’t understand that simply taking off their clothes, washing them in cold water
Tumbling dry and cool ironing
Is not enough to bleach the imprint of consumerism.
Because they are consumed by the fear of not fitting in,
Those skinny jeans.