The [Fashion] Party’s Not Over!
Shows May Have Gone Virtual, but Dressing to Impress is still on my Fashion Month Agenda!
Shot by Zeno Watson
Shot by Zeno Watson
Post-Pandemic Perseverance
While many industries are feeling like the proverbial morning after the night before, (and the fashion industry has been hit harder than most), I do believe that most will prevail - or pivot - to survive and thrive. It’s human nature to fight on, to pick ourselves up and “party on regardless” (in a masked and socially-distanced style, of course).
Traditionally a time for dressing up, showing off and strutting our sartorial stuff on the street, there’s no denying that Fashion Month is depressingly different in this, its first Covid-era season. But as catwalks go virtual and pavements, paparazzi- and fashionista-free, there’s no evidence to suggest there will be any limit to the innovation, spectacle and drama on the catwalk. Indeed, the Alice & Olivia show was less fashion catwalk, more dance floor last night, as it exploded with colour and energy!
So nothing’s stopping us from enjoying the true fantasy of fashion from the comfort of our own sofas. What will be shockingly different, however, is what we’ll be wearing while watching!
Slumming at home in ever-ubiquitous ‘loungewear’ has clearly become the new black! But it’s not for me. Life is for living, clothes are for wearing and dressing up is for life, not just for Fashion Week! Obviously, I’m not going full-throttle party dress or suited and booted while working from home, but when I’m out and about, be that for picking up a pint of milk or meeting friends for drinks or dinner, I’m “all in” for going “all out” in the fashion stakes!
Escape Into Fashion…
The reason is simple. I must. Everyone hits bumps in the road of life. When mine hit especially hard, aside from faithful friends and family members, it’s in styling clothes, playing with colour, getting creative that I find my salvation. Unlike those who want to hide away in black or blend in wearing beige when they feel down, for me, wearing an outfit that feels unique and eye-catching brings me back to myself. When my mood is low or things are tough, in fashion I have a loyal friend, a cheerful chum who will always make me feel better about myself, my situation and the world in general. It’s a form of therapy, it speaks to my soul and puts me back in touch with my core being.
History Repeating…
Dior’s New Look of 1947 found favour following years of wartime fabric rationing. Alessandro Michele’s exuberant Gucci debut of 2015 reflected the last vestiges of austerity being blown away in the post-financial crisis world. So once our initial reticence towards extravagance diminishes, I predict a resurgence in maximalism, colour, adornment and the sheer joy of dressing up. This time, however, we will carefully curate and cultivate our wardrobes. We will “buy less, choose well and make it last ”, as our British Doyenne of Fashion, Vivienne Westwood, famously once encouraged us.
Some Past Season Fashion Week Favourites!
Check out the highly digital and inclusive London Fashion Week SS21 Schedule and take part online this season!
If necessity is indeed the mother of invention, then I personally can’t wait to see the Phoenix of Fashion as she rises from the Covid ashes. An industry, it must be said, in much need of an overhaul: plagued by sustainability issues, elitism and, most recently, called out for its systemic racism, Fashion can only emerge stronger and more fit for the purpose of inspiring, clothing and employing us. It’s like Fashion itself caught Covid 19, was placed on a ventilator and is only now beginning the long road to recovery.
Fashion is so much more than the clothes we wear. It’s the way we communicate our inner selves with the world, it’s “instant language” as Miuccia Prada put it. I, for one, believe the more we can talk to one another, the more we can express our true selves, openly, honestly and without fear of judgement, the better we will understand one another, respect and appreciate our differences.
And that feels like a recovery I can truly get all dressed up for!
How do you think the fashion industry will change? Do you have plans to invest in new clothes or have you resolved to reduce your consumerism? Let me know in the comments!
Thanks for reading!
Nx
Special thanks to the incredible Zeno Watson for shooting this feature. To see more of his work or to make a reservation, check out his website.