Edward Russell
Looking back at fashion in the 20th century and a few words spring to mind. Iconic. Revolutionary. Innovative. Each decade enthused the creation of something new and inspiring in the way of fashion and these statements have paved the way for styles that we see today. But the question that arises from this is; have we exhausted all possible forms of originality in regards to clothing styles? And what is it about fashion that inspires us to follow the shifts in trends that are a continual and ever evolving pattern of the fashion industry?
Part of how the fashion industry once functioned was primarily down to society and the class system, as fashion was a source of power and a distinguishable attribute that the wealthy would employ to assert their status. This tangible concept reflected the styles that designers would create in meeting the prerequisites of their target audience, which were principally the more affluent in society.
However, the 1970s saw a reform in the progression of manufacture in clothing and reproductions of designs were being introduced to the rest of society, hence resulting in the formation of new trends coming in to play.
Trends are continually evolving and being altered by those who set them, in order to produce something new and exciting to substantiate and keep up with the constant movement of the fashion industry, and the prominence of fashion week is as influential as ever in both the fashion world and in the media. These catwalk events allow designers to showcase their works and dominate what will be fundamentally prevalent in clothing styles in the following seasons. However, when I say ‘new’, I’m not entirely sure that’s an accurate term to use in regards to whether they are a creation of something that hasn’t been done previously. One of the major trends circulating at present, is quite noticeably the 70s, and this nostalgia could be seen all over the catwalk as of late. With long flowing, chiffon maxi dresses seen on the catwalks of Alberta Ferretti and Chloé, that epitomize the romanticism and hippy vibe of the decade, to minimalist and structured tuxedos inspired by Celine, these modern spins embody retro styles at their finest. The 70s revival is still very dominant, and this season we should expect to see just as much of the ostentatious and folk styled prints and more of a delicate and ethereal take on the trend with sheer fabrics and intricate lace work.
Whilst it may not be so obvious, these fashion blasts from the past may be indirectly implying certain things about our culture today, as they did when they were initially formed. The 70s were a decade commonly associated with the aspect of individuality, with many people questioning society and dissociating themselves by not conforming to its ideals, in terms of both their beliefs and their appearance. Fashion almost embodied people’s principles and there was a very apparent desire to rebel against the conventionalities of society which was reflective in their clothing. But why is it that designers are so keen on revitalising a past trend? Are they trying to make a statement that encourages us to question the culture we are immersed in and the problems that aren’t necessarily related so perceptibly to fashion? Originality in the society that we now live in, what with social media and just our general environment, is something that is so strived for that it actually becomes transparent and often loses all authenticity and this may be what this trend is signifying in terms of individuality and ingenuity. I think one of the reasons behind why we are so inspired by previous trends, is because of what they signified in the way of culture at the time of their initial conception and how they encourage us to question ourselves and the assertions about life that we make with our clothing choices.
We are constantly progressing in fashion, even if we are retrospective whilst doing so and this is obviously going to conclude to previous styles being made new again. This isn’t to say that reinvented styles aren’t noteworthy in their own right, it just establishes the question of whether there will be a defining moment in fashion that is categorically pertinent to this decade and what will we associate with it? All forms of clothing nowadays are reminiscent of something before, whether it be a classic pencil skirt or something as simple as a shirt dress, and this concludes the question of whether, as human beings, is there only so much ingenuity that can come out of something, or do we simply have to change our perspective to see uniqueness?
