Posted by
Dain,
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
12:13 AM (Eastern)
I hate layering. You know, leggings, complicated dress, tunics, tailored jackets, whatever, all on top of each other. I don't care if you do it in neutrals. It looks stupid. I hate to see it whenever I flip through glossies (Lucky in particular reeks with too much layering. What is happening to this magazine? It's going downhill. Whatever happened to the Consumer's Digest of fashion? Now it's, vanity fair.). It's too multidimensionally significant. Too "interesting", rather than attractive. Clothes should look good, first and foremost.
The trends I prefer: 1. Dresses that are interesting, not readily identifiable, and fit to perfection... that, I think, is a trend to yield clothes that will last you a lifetime. Because really, when will you ever hate a beautiful dress? Yes, they're more expensive than tops, but the amount of real wear you get out of them is far greater. Might as well snap some up while it's the fashion to design beautiful, well made, and interesting clothes. 2. Pristine, well-cut basics. This, I think, is an emerging trend. One that hasn't really shown its face yet. It's time. Yeah, $300 jeans are ridiculous, but these trends filter down from the top. GAP makes precision cut jeans, Express makes editor pants... and now tees and shirts are getting the treatment. What next? Sweaters are coming. A mania for precise, handcrafted artisanal sweaters.
Things I'm not sure about: 1. Organic jewelry? But then, my taste is to the baroque. I don't know that I want gold and jewels to look as if they grew on me. And yet, to look at, they are, very pretty. 2. Really, I don't like the shoe trends. Architectural? Please. There are two shoes I'm contemplating this season, it's just that boring to me:
The Steve Madden 'Carmila': So classic that it's eternally tasteful. They're not Manolos, but they are surprisingly close to well made for factory chaff.
Doc Martens: I revere Christian Louboutin, but the ubiquity repels me. Before, Louboutin was something like a fledgling Roger Vivier without feathers (no pun intended). Now? It's like Louis Vuitton: common but expensive, beautifully made but still! common. (Is this elitist of me? Or fair to demand of an artist? Cobblers, presumably, artists.) I don't know, perhaps it is too much to say at once. All I know is a part of me is a little sick of seeing that red heel. The antidote? These.
I do, sometimes, just love Louboutin, though:
All the sex appeal of killer heels, but with the refinement of a tuxedo. It's a kind of joke, but one that you don't quite get until you really think about it, because the shoe looks so good on your foot (imagine it peeking forth from a simple skirt and cardigan combo).
What am I craving? Rich, rich, colors: just a little "off" from true colors. Both Fall 2006 and Spring 2007 are playing off very neutral palettes, so I want, actually, the most intense color I can find. I suppose the makeup trends are bright enough? E.g. Instead of cobalt blue, you have this quasi-violet-toned ultramarine, in lush suede:
This is Brian Atwood, Spring 2007.
One Big Trend: An Analysis Neutral, neutral colored accessories, in rich skins (or plastic, as the case may be), a parade of shoes, and bags. Wear with sharp, tailored clothing:
Can you imagine this Calvin Klein python bag slung on your arm? *dies*
My god, I could not stop salivating when I saw these. Beige: boring. Crocodile: always grosses me out slightly. But together, so... rich. Perfection. Sculptures by Alexander McQueen.
Normally, I would not advocate Chanel, because I find it so tasteless, but the Naked Bag is such a self-referential, self-aware take on tacky-expensive that I actually find it very clever. It makes fun of itself.
A huge tote is something that always appeals to me, maybe because I always carry around so many books. Marni makes this one in patent leather (still going strong), black leather accents, and resin handles.
Smokey snakeskin, in classic, universally flattering and versatile styles. Just right with the LBD (Little Black Dress) and berry lipstick. Salvatore Ferragamo and Tods.
VBH's white leather with brown accents, such a chic combination. It's pristine, but not cloudlike and formless. But reinvented in a very modern slouchy, egg shape.
But...
Imagine the one slung on your arm as you step out into the night. Imagine the other as you jet off to someplace glamorous and sunny (sounds so good right now, in this dreary Connecticut November). Some things, come what will, will always be true to a signature look. In spite of trends. Which I respect. What is it that the Manolo says? "Pucci always makes the smiles."
Hermmmmm...layers are like Uggs. I suppose. I never see Uggs around here, only read endless complaints about Uggs on the Net.
Uggs supposedly look like crap, they were at one point ubiquitous, everyone dissed them, yadda yadda...but from all reports, they're warm. They even keep your feet dry. This makes them interesting to me. Not here and now...my Doc Martens boots keep my feet warm and dry in our relatively mild climate...but the concept.
Now layers, you find in California. It's not a fashion. People have always worn layers here. You have to. The weather is crazy.
For example, this morning it was so cold I turned the heat on. (Okay this is California, you have to turn the heat on.) By afternoon, it was hot. Short sleeve hot. In the evening, it was back cold again.
Almost any time you wear clothes warm enough for the morning and evening, you have to have a creative way of shedding at least one layer of them in the afternoon. Whenever it looks hot outside, it can suddenly turn cold; you almost always have to have a wrap of some kind with you, and preferably some way of tying it so you don't have to carry it.
It was slightly worse in Washington because of the rain. It starts raining right out of the blue. So, add a waterproof layer to the fact that it's freezing there.
Layers for the sake of layers just strikes me as silly. If it's cold though, I always throw on another layer.
Ohhhhh...I know exactly what you mean about "not readily identifiable."
It's been in the back of my mind for some time...how, more and more so, we are buying all of our clothing at exactly the same stores. The same brands, the same models even.
I think the trend will be toward smaller designers, boutiques, people making their own clothes or starting their own cottage industries...in the same way the trend is toward esoteric perfume houses. Ultimately, people will want something different.
Colleen Shirazi
2:02 AM,
Hermmmmm...layers are like Uggs. I suppose. I never see Uggs around here, only read endless complaints about Uggs on the Net.
Uggs supposedly look like crap, they were at one point ubiquitous, everyone dissed them, yadda yadda...but from all reports, they're warm. They even keep your feet dry. This makes them interesting to me. Not here and now...my Doc Martens boots keep my feet warm and dry in our relatively mild climate...but the concept.
Now layers, you find in California. It's not a fashion. People have always worn layers here. You have to. The weather is crazy.
For example, this morning it was so cold I turned the heat on. (Okay this is California, you have to turn the heat on.) By afternoon, it was hot. Short sleeve hot. In the evening, it was back cold again.
Almost any time you wear clothes warm enough for the morning and evening, you have to have a creative way of shedding at least one layer of them in the afternoon. Whenever it looks hot outside, it can suddenly turn cold; you almost always have to have a wrap of some kind with you, and preferably some way of tying it so you don't have to carry it.
It was slightly worse in Washington because of the rain. It starts raining right out of the blue. So, add a waterproof layer to the fact that it's freezing there.
Layers for the sake of layers just strikes me as silly. If it's cold though, I always throw on another layer.
2:10 AM,
Ohhhhh...I know exactly what you mean about "not readily identifiable."
It's been in the back of my mind for some time...how, more and more so, we are buying all of our clothing at exactly the same stores. The same brands, the same models even.
I think the trend will be toward smaller designers, boutiques, people making their own clothes or starting their own cottage industries...in the same way the trend is toward esoteric perfume houses. Ultimately, people will want something different.
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