Fashion Wars

by Penna Dexter, Contributing Author: On cool winter days I often zip on my black Ivanka Trump ankle boots. I got them at Nordstrom about five years ago. They’re still in good shape, still stylish, and look great with pants and skirts of any length. They have a couple of years left in them and it’s a good thing because I wouldn’t know where to replace that brand right now.

Certainly not at Nordstrom. The retail chain announced it will no longer sell the Ivanka Trump brand of clothing and accessories in stores. Belk, Jet, ShopStyle, and Home Shopping Network also dropped the line. And many other chains are being pressured to do the same by the Grab Your Wallet campaign, a protest against Trump companies as well as companies that sell their products and otherwise do business with the Trump family.

Katie Pavlich points out, at Townhall.com, that this is not a simple boycott. She says it’s “organized by leftist agitators who send mobs to intimidate companies and those who dare buy their products.”

Vogue magazine is taking a subtler tack in its response to the new presidential administration. The magazine is celebrating women. Last year Vogue made its first-ever presidential endorsement — of Hillary Clinton. Editor in Chief Anna Wintour said, “Obviously we felt it was a moment in history for women.”

The magazine’s 125th anniversary issue arrived in newsstands in New York and Los Angeles on Valentine’s Day, which also happened to fall during New York’s Fashion Week. Every 2017 issue of Vogue will celebrate women, 125 women by the end of the year. Ms. Wintour said, “I think women have been on everybody’s mind after recent results.” She also stated that Melania Trump, who — in 2005 — appeared on the cover of Vogue will receive coverage.

And then there are the fashion designers who have publicly stated they don’t want to “dress” Melania or Ivanka Trump. The first to take such a stand was Sophie Theallet. She said, “As an independent fashion brand, we consider our voice an expression of our artistic and philosophical ideas.” Washington Post fashion critic Robin Givhan explained why Ms. Theallet and other designers say they’ll decline to design for the Trumps. She said, “Clothes are commodities, certainly, but they also have an artful point of view that is distinctly personal.” So, she says, refusing to design clothing for the Trumps “is not the equivalent of refusing service.”

Tell that to the photographers, bakers, and florists who use what they know are God-given gifts to create beautiful and personal components of couples’ wedding celebrations. Many face lawsuits and the loss of their businesses unless they use their talents to celebrate gay weddings.

People have a perfect right to refrain from purchasing or selling the Trump brand for what they see as worldview and moral reasons. Fashion designers can refuse service on this basis. Wedding vendors also deserve this freedom.
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Penna Dexter is a radio talk show host heard on numerous stations via the Point of View Network endorsed by Dr. Bill Smith, Editor, ARRA News Service

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