Letter from the Editor: The Woman Next Door Issue
Dear Reader:
A very long time ago, in an almost far-away 1980’s Manhattan, corporate ladies hustled to their skyscrapers in sneakers and changed into heels to tackle “men’s work” in menswear. Their padded-shoulder suits ushered them into executive and entrepreneur positions (aka real-life Angela Bowers), shaping their own conventions. Girls wanted to grow up to be them.
Figure 1: Carmen Diaz in There’s Something About Mary (1998) is the girl next door according to old Hollywood standards.
The girl next door grew up with the world. The Woman Next Door (WND) is no longer restricted to the clean girl image pushed forth by Hollywood inventions. Zendaya looks the part, but certainly doesn’t play it.
More Greta Gerwig, less Reese Witherspoon.
The reality of social media changed who and what we idealize. Importantly, she has become a woman who is relatable. Her mystery has mostly faded because she shows you. Mostly. She's a founder, activist, micro-influencer, motherless, childless, an asshole, botoxed, and BBL’d. She’s alone, has anxiety, and is busier than ever scrolling, pill popping, and imitating GRWMs. Sorry Trad Wives, the WND trades in suburban nostalgia for real-world connection.
Figure 2: Angela Bower (Who’s the Boss) and the power of dressing in menswear. As evidenced by Dior’s Men’s show, women influence men with style notes.
From Angela Bower to Betsey Johnson and Sandy Lerner, we take style notes from the perspectives of women who have not only dressed the part, but defined it.
Significantly, women are not trying to be men or adopt a reductive archetype. They do carry menswear- and so-called men’s work- stronger than ever. From the advent of the boyfriend jeans, women have been styling it her way. My affinity for menswear traces back to borrowing my grandfather’s fisherman’s sweater and inheriting my father’s slacks. Pretty headbands, Mary Jane’s and Barbie heels factored into the equation. A common denominator was, of course, the gut-brain connection that makes Dosha Dressing our foundation.
For our Spring-Summer Issue 10, tip your hat to the Woman Next Door.
Wholeheartedly,
Dr. Kuver
Founder + Editor-in-Chief
The Magazine
Figure 3: The editor’s style through the change of sunny seasons- Spring to Summer. Menswear layered over womenswear and the effects on the gut-brain axis. (Image: AKJAM Publishing)
THE WOMAN NEXT DOOR
READ THE SPRING SUMMER ISSUE