In an era of personal style and bold statements, it is a wonder how trends last. At first, fashion week was supposed to prepare buyers and consumers alike for what will be in next season. People would watch runway shows and then gradually move on, updating their day-to-day attire in order to incorporate the new collections into their wardrobes. Editors would have enough time to write their articles and to adapt, giving the whole concept of fashion magazines a meaning- informing its readers. Is trend forecasting even important anymore, considering the fact that we all follow an army of Instagram influencers that inspire us through their #ootds? All that we need to know, the clothing soul food, the essence of our world can now be found on social media and those who have the greatest impact on it are the people. What is, in the end, left of this industry if even trends are starting to disappear?
It is easily seen that each brand has its own aesthetic. That may actually be one of the only things that connects us peasants to the big wolves. This abstract concept became quite popular between the Tumblr users, when that was still cool, and started from the skater skirts and vans that every teenage girl would wear to high school. On a larger scale, we are talking about interior design, fashion, movies, floral arrangements or breakfast foods which are aesthetically pleasing or match our own aesthetic. Have brands become so invested in becoming unique that they no longer create a bond with the audience? I believe that, even if it seems over the top, we can divide today’s fashion in 2 grand aesthetics: Guccify and the Valentinesque, individuals finding their identity more drawn to one or the other
Thanks to the very crafty hands of Pierpaolo Piccioli, I have come to the conclusion that dressing up still has hope. As an explanation to my previous statement, I sadly can’t come up with a reason as of why elaborate concoctions of clothing items have reached the status of old-fashioned. I am simply and honestly a fan of all that is old, however I never miss a chance to channel something worthy of a Demna Gvasalia uniform. The LBD of the 1920’s along with the Christian Dior of the 1940’s are the image of the original stylish woman. Coming as a millennial shock, as nature is a cycle, so is fashion. We may begin with a stroll down the beach wearing a dress and oversized hat by Jacquemus, those covering the high-waisted bikinis by Dolce & Gabbana. Lunch is set in the French Riviera, having oysters in Dries van Noten silk. Just imagine: how much better would business meetings go if you were dressed in a Chanel tweed deux-pieces and your heels were Manolos? To wrap it all up, add some Moncler Genius in the cold weather; just for good measure.
No one does refined extravaganzza like Alessandro Michele. Classic or minimalist turns out to be synonymous with outdated when compared to his work for Gucci. He managed to create an actual culture around the brand, influencing music, style and taste. In contrast to the other aesthetic, what I can certainly say about the mastermind behind the dragon appearences on the runway is that his vision was not what the original womenswear collections would have expected to become. Guccify your daily routine with a monogram tracksuit and add the quintessential shoe: dad sneakers. Moving on to other revolutionaries, quit the je ne sais quoi and admit that you sais quoi by devoting your suit collection to Marc Jacobs. What is going out without an immense Maison Margiela pillow bag? The finishing touch, the grand finale, can only come from the hands of Rei Kawakubo- a Comme des Garçons dress. Post scriptum: no one can say no to a pair of spike heels that can only come from Balenciaga.
Dividing fashion into categories is a load of work that has no purpose and is, in the end, impossible. Referring to recent creations, they are a form of art and you can’t put that into a catalogue. Still, individuals have discovered a criteria by which to define style: minimalism vs maximalism. As thrilling as the thought of taste being split in two is to me and the concept of individuality running towards extinction, watching the fast-paced life we live and the rapid changes occuring around us, I realise that we update, we adapt, at the speed of light. Constant transformations are what makes it impossible for aesthetics and trends to be relevant anymore.
hARTS magazine 