So the inevitable has happened. The balaclava, or ski
mask – a key element of the Pussy Riot look – was initially borrowed by a few
performing celebrities as a sign of solidarity with the young Russian women (Madonna)
or of their own complete lack of judgment (Justin Bieber). Now the provocative clothing
accessory has been adopted by several fashion designers presenting their fall
collections.
This turn of events was apparently anticipated by the band members
who tried to discourage such pathetic copycatting. One of them, Bullet (whose name does sound better - and more feminine - in Russian), stated
in an interview last year: “It’s very important to
us that there are no designers or labels to fetishize around us.” This squeamishness is
understandable, but I have a message for Bullet and her sisters. At the cost of
some personal sacrifice or at least inconvenience, you can try to fight Putin
or Erdogan. But you can’t fight this.
