| Jackie Kennedy is an important figure in discussing the rhetoric of fashion. |
Jackie Kennedy is an important figure in the discussion of the rhetoric of fashion. |
| As first lady, she was part of the elite, ruling class. |
As first lady, she was part of the elite, ruling class. |
| As is normally the case with fashion trends, the ruling class establishes the fashion trends, and lower classes then attempt to emulate those styles. |
As is usually the case with fashion trends, the ruling class sets the fashion trends and the lower classes try to imitate those styles. |
| Those who imitated Jackie Kennedy's style did so not only because they liked her sense of style, but they also wanted to identify with those aspects of her life that her style brought with it: wealth, power, and social status. |
Those who imitated Jackie Kennedy's style did so not only because they liked her sense of style, but also because they wanted to identify with the aspects of her life that her style brought with it: wealth, power, and social status. |
| Celebrity figures such as Jackie Kennedy provide us with the most accessible vision of what it means to be wealthy. |
Celebrities like Jackie Kennedy provide us with the most accessible view of what it means to be wealthy. |
| Their style and their fashion choices become culturally understood symbols that represent wealth and power. |
Her style and fashion choices become culturally understood symbols that represent wealth and power. |
| Once the “refined taste” of the elite is adopted by lower classes, (for example: imitation Louis Vuitton handbags, fake Chanel sunglasses) the elite then shift gears and establish a new high-fashion trend that places them back at the top of the fashion pyramid. |
Once the "refined taste" of the elite is adopted by the lower classes (e.g. imitation Louis Vuitton handbags, fake Chanel sunglasses), the elite then shift gears and set a new high fashion trend that puts them back at the top of the fashion pyramid. |
| Many times, the trend among the elite is to wear clothing that appears “casual” and “low-maintenance,” (all while costing hundreds or even thousands of dollars) – but as soon as the actual casual and low maintenance wearers adopt those trends, the style changes. |
Often, the trend among the elite is to wear clothes that look "casual" and "low-maintenance" (while costing hundreds or even thousands of dollars) - but once the casual and low-maintenance wearers adopt these trends , the style changes. |
