My final column
As this will be my last ever column I had to think hard about how to leave things. Over the last decade I have covered fashion weeks, reviewed red carpet looks, celebrity style and explored the merits of more trends than I can remember. I didn't want my last word to be a retrospective because despite the circular nature of trends, fashion keeps moving forward so I am going to leave you with what I have learnt about fashion and style in the past ten years, the things I will carry forward and do more of and what I will be leaving in the past.
Rules. Thankfully the world has changed for the better when it comes to kindness, we no longer find it acceptable to be disparaging towards women and their appearance, body shaming is frowned upon and picking holes and magnifying perceived faults is no longer an acceptable pastime, but fashion can still be too prescriptive, only in women's fashion do we use the term “flattering” and it usually refers to something “hugging” us in the “right places” or “showing off” our bust / waistline / legs and don't get me started on wearing the “correct” colours for our complexion. If you want to wear short figure hugging clothes, please do so, if you want to wear oversized voluminous clothes, go for it and if you want to wear your favourite colours regardless of your skin tone, please do, fashion is supposed to be creative, fun and individual, not a sea of beige in “flattering” silhouettes, wear the wrong shoe, mix high and low, sporty and smart and accessorize, accessories are how you personalise, add interest and pull a look together.
Proportion is everything, no matter if you are wearing a slim or a loose shape, balancing out your proportions will go a long way to making an outfit work. And it's not always about pairing slim trousers with a bigger top, proportions include heaviness of the shoe, the weight and length of the layers and the shape of the neckline and its different for all of us as we are different heights, shapes and sizes, If you like a certain shape on you it's probably because the proportions work for you, wear more of it.
It was Dame Vivienne Westwood who said “buy less, choose well, make it last” to do this you need to have patience and restraint, go away and think about clothes before you buy them, imagine where you will wear them and how often, we shouldn't be buying clothes as regularly as groceries, removing fast fashion from your diet will improve your style by making you a more considered shopper. Find yourself a seamstress and a cobbler for alterations and repairs and rather than buy a dress you'll wear one to an event, rent one, the rental market has transformed and you can even rent dresses from current season, it's cost effective and prevents waste.
Style can not be copied, it has to be created. Taking inspiration from others is great but the rise in influencer culture can make it difficult to identify if you have been inspired or influenced, let me help you, if you clicked the direct link from their stories, you have been influenced. Use pinterest for inspiration and build up a visual of your own style that way. Then shop for the pieces you really want. And remember styling your own clothes in a new way is a bigger flex than buying new.
Last but not least, shop second hand and vintage, there are enough garments on the planet to clothe us for generations, modern clothes can't compare to the quality, look for silk, cotton knits, cashmere and wool. I personally enjoy the thrill of the chase but for those who don't there are curators out there, use them. For the final time, Happy Shopping.
