Madonna at the Met Gala...

Fashion criticism is dangerous. The reigning method seems to be the fashion police format made popular by the late Joan Rivers. The comments come by the second. Each one funnier and more cutting than the last, they prey on the petty racisms, sexisms and ageisms that present themselves as acceptable opinions.

Madonna Says Her Met Gala Outfit Was a "Political Statement" https://t.co/rd8ZT0w2AI pic.twitter.com/Qk1yQUe5ro

— ELLE Magazine (US) (@ELLEmagazine) May 8, 2016

At this year's Met Gala, Madonna turned up in a Givenchy dress that revealed both her buttocks and her breasts. The insults were a flood. After the event Madonna claimed that the garment was a political statement. She said, "My dress at the Met Ball was a political statement as well as a fashion statement. The fact that people actually believe a woman is not allowed to express her sexuality and be adventurous past a certain age is proof that we still live in an age-ist sexist society."

Madonna has arrived at the #MetGala 2016! 😱😂 pic.twitter.com/K4eRmecFqv

— Shady Music Facts (@musicnews_shade) May 3, 2016

There is truth to her words. However you must wonder if the criticism levied at her was because she is getting along in the years, or because it is an abortion of a dress. I cannot think of a single celebrity that could possibly have pulled it off. It is common for women in that industry whatever their age to display some aspect of their sexuality but it is uncommon for them to truly leave nothing to the imagination.

It works as a statement. The revelation of both the buttocks and the breasts at an event where they are not usually seen will more often than not set tongues to wagging. It would have worked better if she'd said that her appearance at the Met Gala was her attempt at bringing the plight of women the world round to the world's attention before the event. If that was the case then she could have come out on the red carpet naked with the words, "Ageism is Bad. I am free to show off my body as I see fit" written across her length and breadth. If she'd done that we would have spoken about the cause she was fighting for and not the way she looked. 

It's the same way you phone in to work a good hour before when you know that you're going to be late. When you turn up thirty minutes late with a story, it seems a little bit like an after thought. Be that as it may, she deserves applause for drawing the attention of the universal fashion police from the truly trivial topic of her clothes and placing it quite firmly on a far more deserving cause.

Happy Days,
Afam