EditorialJocelyn YihSeptember 06, 2016Comment

Definition

EditorialJocelyn YihSeptember 06, 2016Comment

Society has a very good way of stereotyping, classifying and impounding people into strict definitions.

Since our early days, we are pushed to strive towards one particular career path, and with that comes with a routine of certain academic requirements, work experience and years of hustling before we get to a point in our lives - where we burn out from our so-called 'dream jobs', lose the motivation to convey any sort of creativity and neglect our health and well-being, by trading these in with tolerating with excessively performance-driven employers and passive-aggressive colleagues. Only to pass on our responsibilities and hopes onto the next generation, and to blame the younger years for the disruption they have caused within our society.

We either stick with this routined lifestyle for the rest of our lives, or we disrupt it with an inexplicable change in career paths, which, in turn, is so often frowned upon by conservative minds who go along with the status quo.

To co-exist is the most fragile part of our society. The merging of our interests, with contrasting behaviours, unusual attitudes and unique upbringings. Oversaturated markets are to have fingers pointed towards them, when it comes to nurturing the new talents within an industry. Why strike down and exhaust innocent minds when they've barely learnt their ABCs?

With that, I do sometimes wonder why we aren't battling each other at our local gyms. (I say this with mild reference to the 9.5 million daily Pokemon Go users, of whom already do so.)

Which only brings me to my conclusion:

Nothing defines us.

Not the 9-to-5 job we do, the University degree subject we obtain, nor a 1-minute meet-and-greet.

Your unsuccessful interview in which you weren't able to convey your full potential does not even mark yourself as a failure.

The pioneers of our society are no longer necessarily the over-achieving, straight-As student, who graduated with a respective degree from first-tier Universities, employed fresh out of college, with their minds set onto one, sole goal.

The other side of the spectrum are out in the wild, fighting for their multi-varied diverse interests and turning skills, of which they have not learnt from a text book at the school library or a 'professional mentor', into their career. The brave souls who challenge the norms of our society which has framed us within; pushing their comfort zones by working a different job into the late nights, or early mornings, of their after-hours; paving their own way in roads that have not yet been taken. Entrepreneurs who may not even have a guide to follow and have self-educated themselves through time.

As we climb towards the last quarter of the year, where millennials have already had one-and-a-half decade at the forefront of the industries, are moving towards a steady state of their careers and overseeing the younger generation; many still pin to our society's long recognition that we remain to be the lazy, irresponsible and unchallengeable.

To prove them wrong, personality is key to success. That even with sufficient requisite knowledge, research and experience, it is not good enough to neglect the tough traditions of the workplaces; of which there is no way to find out and learn more more then to actually be there physically and sit through it. Even with optimistic minds and the broadest of mental horizons, it is no longer enough to keep calm and go with the flow.

And from recent experience, the elders have forgotten the very core of why the juniors are here. To obtain exposure in any form or matter, to come into rare face-to-face contact with those who managed to pull through, and to be educated in a way that a text book cannot instruct.

There is no mutual benefit guarantee alongside the signed contract for minimum wage.

There isn't even a guarantor to bleat about a bad experience.

Our mouths are sealed by the preference to stay within the boundaries. To follow the age-old convention that to nod, smile and shut up is the key to satisfying the seniors.

The truth is, we don't need to be told that we are unlikeable because of our mortal being.

We simply do not need to be retold what is already known.

What our society yearns for are instructors that actually teach, tutors that actually instruct and mentors that actually advise. Elders who are fearless in educating the younger, rather than to cause further distress, worse even to confuse and to deter the talented away from their potential and enthusiasm within.

And in response to winning what is left within our sanity, is to be the most versatile creature we could be.

To be foolish enough to dive straight into the deep end of it all.

To stay hungry and learn more without burning out.

To be willing to take the verbal stabbing of overcomplicated minds.

To stay put in receiving poor advice, regardless of its potential future use.

To never tire from the repeated categorizations of stubborn constraints of mortals.

Because the only missing piece does not solely stem from the ignorant mistakes of the junior. Rather, it comes down to the reluctance of seniors in passing valuable advice when, in fact, there was never enough substance to advise from within anyways.

The same applies to fashion brands.

To survive from the beginning is to recognise the brand's ethos and to build upon it.

Dior Homme has built its image through its notable Slimane suits, a tailored cut so unique Karl Lagerfeld notably shed pounds to fit into.

The tables have turned when Van Assche took over as Creative Director in April 2007. From the wide-brimmed hats of "Enfold/ Unfold" , to the creative collaborations with Willy Vanderperre, such as the eerie "The Wanderer" to the Body Holbrook wandering around the City of Lights in "Paris XVIE" as from the hyperformal "Opening Night & Daydreaming" Winter 2015-2016 collection.

Not one collection is the same as another.

There is no definition

We've evolved into a new level of order and secret disorder for the most recent Summer 2017 show - a collection as varied as we have ever seen. With classic formal tailoring to sleeveless plaid shirts, from leather bombers to navy trench coats, army boots to chest harness. Van Assche has re-defined the Dior Homme with no formulae, but rather a synthesis of generations, an amalgram of memories and set up one heck of a challenge - for himself and his audience.

Firm at core, further ever-changing and ever-evolving.