The Hipster Headdress: A Fashion Faux Pas

Today I read this post on “Native American” style, titled cleverly “Feathers and Fashion: Native American is In Style,” inspired by Native Appropriations’ Tribal Fashion Roundup!. I found that after reading the authors’ opinions, followed by seemingly endless reader comments, I’ve little to suggest that wouldn’t be a summary, paraphrase, or quote of one of the others. That being said, I must begin by pointing out, like some of the commenters, that I’m not Native, and, therefore, am merely voicing my opinion as an outsider.

First and foremost, let’s take a look at the hipster headdress. Check out the examples given in “Feathers in Fashion.” We’ve got Bat for Lashes wearing three different headdresses on three separate occasions (and looking rather sickly, I might add). When I saw Devendra Banhart at the Ark, he was also wearing a headdress. And guess what the girl next to me at last May’s Animal Collective show in Royal Oak was wearing. What’s more, Adrienne at Native Appropriations posted that Ke$ha (I still don’t know who the hell she is) wore one on a TV performance recently as well. I could additionally reference a few Facebook friends, but I’ll be a champ and spare them.

There’s absolutely nothing okay about this trend. It’s not ironic, it’s not chic, and it’s certainly not cultural. The headdress is a generalized, Hollywood “Injun” stereotype – a trend, if you will, that’s lasted over fifty years. It was wrong then, and it’s still wrong now. Same goes for smearing war paint on your face and exclaiming “How!” and “Make big chief heap glad!” It’s not even so much because it’s offensive. Of course, by no means are hoards of young, hip, credit card kids armed with cheap 40’s and menthol cigarettes donning supposedly prestigious, culturally meaningful regalia likely flattering to people of Native American descent. But really – are these flakes worth getting all hot and bothered over?

My opinion is: no. Because, like the big, floppy headdress that matches perfectly with your new, Urban Outfitters sundress, ignorance is no new trend. American magazines may publish Native American-inspired garb under “global” trend sections (to which Adrienne comments “Native American trends are ‘global’ – um, you can’t get more American than the styles of the original peoples in the US..”) People may charge $185 for a dead coyote to wear on your head as a fashion statement (I love roadkill AND the Great Spirit?) Not to say some people aren’t offended – it’s definitely apparent in the posts’ feedback – but I’ve got a hunch that the hundreds of years of broken promises, stolen homelands, trails of tears, and more or less genocide at assimilative boarding schools are probably a bit more offensive than lame hipsters wearing headdresses. No, it’s cool, it’s not like your ancestors killed them all or anything-” (or your university possesses their grandparents in cardboard boxes). Choosing to wear these items out to a party leaves you looking foolish, no matter your intentions. Regardless of whether or not you’re offending someone of Native origin, you’re offending yourself.

Peace,
Molly

P.S. I’m not ordering anyone to toss their moccasins or never touch a feather again. Just leave the headdresses at home. Please.

Molly Ann Blakowski majors in English and jumps in puddles