THE DRAFT
THE RAMBLINGS OF MY INNER FASHION THOUGHTS
Before I even start my babble I want to define 3 words the way I see them
Fashion - the clothes that are being sold in the shop
Style - how we wear clothes
Trend - a movement that becomes common
The image above by @barrynrodgers I recently shared on instagram and it got loads of us talking. Mostly people agreeing and saying they felt this. This got me thinking…
Let’s go back 20 years ago and think about how we got our fashion inspiration. I use the word inspiration purposefully as a trend was just something we could use as inspiration not something to copy and paste. We received our fashion fix through magazines, weekly or monthly, where stylists would interpret the trend in their own way, on models that spoke to them, in a setting of their creation. They sold you a story. Then the shopping editor would then give you more shopping options on trends the PRs and stores were pushing in a more of a still life format. Think 20 cardigans under £20 or How to get the look, ish. Even though all fashion teams were receiving the same data it was our interpretation and the mag’s general aesthetic that created what you saw. If like me you probably had subscriptions to a few magazines and you would sift through till you found the aesthetic that spoke to you.
Fast forward to today when mags have given way to social media and we are getting fed this information to us all day, everyday. When an algorithm almost dictates the content we create. The songs we use. In a format we know will be pushed. If you are getting paid for your content the people behind the brands are pushing a general look so they can get the most sales and due to this it all becomes same same same. When this spills out onto the street we find ourselves shopping for these trend led pieces so we don’t get left out, even if they don’t directly align with what we really like.
Now I think there are 2 camps, those who want to look like everyone else, this is more than ok and then those like me, who get put off the more people I see wearing something. It’s not that I want to stand out or go against the stream, it’s just that I get a bit bored.
So I started to think about how we find the middle ground here and I think the answer is to focus on outfit formula rather than copy catting.
THE FORMULA BREAKDOWN
This look, yes the one you have now seen everyone do (don’t get me wrong its bloody fantastic) but how do I make this look my own? The first thing I do is strip it down to its bones.
The formula is:
Trousers +
Skirt / dress +
Layering piece - tee/ jumper / jacket +
Large bag +
Flat shoes +
Coffee not essential, but essential IYKYK
THE ANSWER
So if we now know the formula we can apply our own personal style to create an outfit within the trend. The image above shows how these outfits were created with different fabrications, different layering pieces, different proportions and using what they may have already owned rather than buying one wear wonders that they may never wear again once the trend passes.
Before I leave, just a little more food for thought. Not every trend has to be for you, let them come and go. Don’t be afraid to play with your clothes, it’s how your style grows and finally if you can’t find your own style in all the noise, hire a stylist they will save you loads of money in the long run.
Do you agree with me? Disagree with me? Did you find this helpful? Would love to know your thoughts
Big Love
C xx
Always interesting and very entertaining!