You're #Trending?
Today I am going to shock you with some valuable information.
Follow the trends and you will fade away.
Are you okay? I shall explain further, so you don't spit any more of your Chai Latte in shock.
If you follow fashion trends, you will fade into the background. You will look like everyone else, everyone else will look like you. There are a number of factors that contribute to this fashion clone phenomenon; Home craftsmanship has seen a sudden and sharp decline compared to mere decades ago, when making clothing was a part of daily life. Time-consuming crafts like home sewing, knitting and customisation are the most unique, high quality and affordable ways to look high fashion. Coupled with the rapid growth of high-street fashion for teens and twenty-somethings, we are now spoilt for choice, but many of the largest and well-known clothes shops produce very similar garments. Furthermore, prices are lower than they have ever been for clothing,and at these low prices, why invest more time, more money and effort with your wardrobe?
I'll tell you why, because you don't want your clothes to be redundant in three to six months, and have to update your entire wardrobe. This will eventually run up more cost than investing in well-made classic pieces, or revamping/making clothing. Think slowww fashion (Barry White voice on the 'slow' if you please). Good things come to those who wait. It might be an extra £20 for that investment piece, but let me tell you, in the long-run it is so worth it. Being cost effective and investing in your wardrobe is possible too, like buying secondhand or vintage. I do understand the tempting pull of the cheap and cheerful, the temptation is so so hard to resist, but if you want to be able to pull out a garment that is a few years old, in decent condition and still relevant to the world of fashion in the future (like any style aware being) then be strong!
Furthermore, there are more fashion victims than just you and your wardrobe. If you opt for the 'cheap and often' approach. The chances are, that in order to have such an affordable item of clothing, the clothing company will have to cut costs on materials and labour. People work in dire conditions, can be subject to abuse and paid a wage so low, they are trapped in a job that does not improve their impoverished living situation. It is a worldwide problem, and the use of sweatshops was even uncovered by the BBC in 2009 at a TNS factory in Manchester. It makes for shocking reading when we have employee rights here in the UK. In April of last year, the collapsed roof of a Bangladeshi garment factory killed thousands of workers. A window into the poor conditions and overlooked safety considerations of garment factories in Bangladesh was seen worldwide . Furthermore, this is no isolated incident. In May of 2013, a roof collapse of a shoe factory in Cambodia killed two workers (read the news article here) . If this is not motivation to leave that £2 t-shirt, i don't know what is.
I honestly do not wish to sound overly preachy. It IS tempting to cut costs when it comes to buying clothing. For most, the plight of the people who made that cheap top, is definitely not the first thing that comes to mind when out and about shopping. It also may appear hopeless to change this establishment of cheap labour, but there are ways around it and they can be really fun!
There is Vintage, thrifting, ethical brands, up-cycling (remaking),Swishing parties (clothes swapping) and even having a go at creating a garment yourself. These techniques of sourcing your style, will bring an inevitable unique quality to your wardrobe so it is win win. You get gorgeous clothes, workers will get an improved way of life as you chose to shop ethically, and waste is diminished as you work with clothes you already own. With the rise of social media, we have worldwide communication for free at our fingertips and you can easily find vintage/thrift stores online, new and upcoming ethical brands (with costs not dissimilar to 'Zara' or 'Urban Outfitters') and can find amazing events such as vintage fairs,markets and swishing in your local area (i will write further about the excitement of swishing in a future blog post and how to find ethical brands etc.). So there really is no excuse to end up with the 'it' coat next winter. Also known, as the coat everyone and their mother will be wearing next winter.
So I hear you cry; "how do we find a coat then!" There are a few factors that I always implement when looking at potential candidates in the outerwear department. Think about this coat as a potential lover. You want it to be beautiful inside and out, but feel at home with it, and for it to ideally last a very long time (life hopefully, and if you are savvy, this is possible in both the coat - and the love department). A coat should transcend trends. It should be a long-lasting look, that doesn't decrease in the style stakes over seasons. Classic design can be a way to achieve this. Icons such as a classic beige trench coat never go out of fashion and if you invest in quality it will last years.
Mackintosh still make all their coats in the UK and there is an amazing video showing the manufacturing process using rubber goo (and a darling vintage advert) right here . The company strength to keep manufacture in the UK, alongside the iconic design, is absolutely the ideal when it comes to the ethical considerations. This coat will last your AGES, and is exceptionally well-made. You have also supported the workers of the UK by buying it. Did I mention they are gorgeous? If iIhad the means to buy a new one I would, but I hope to stumble across a vintage gem one day.. Also, they look amazing on both men and women.
In the same vein, a vintage 'Burberry' or 'Aquascutum' trench would also be amazing. You have the classic design, with the style kudos of a British heritage brand. I advise to buy vintage because Burberry no longer manufacture here in the UK at all. According to a 2012 article from the Guardian, Burberry shifted it's production to china at a cost of 600 UK jobs, in order to boost profit margins. Aquascutum currently produce 16% of their clothing in the UK. Vintage is a way to give a pre-owned coat a new lease of life. If that vintage/ thrift smell freaks you out (it doesn't bother me, I must confess), get it dry cleaned and it will be like having a spangly new designer coat. Also, you can usually have the fit altered in a garment, either at the dry cleaners or an alterations shop. This will ensure a perfect fit if you have bought vintage. However, an over-sized classic trench always looks amazing. The oversize fit is seen in many a street-style snap and will always fit because you may never grow out of it! About 12 jumpers can also be worn underneath that oversize trench, when things get arctic with no problem.
My last tip is to keep up to date with up-and-coming ethical brands and new British designers. If you can, keep your ear to the ground if any local arts universities are near you. The fashion/textile graduates will have a final show, and you never know, you could get to witness a real-life catwalk show! This is also a great way to look at the future of fashion. Students will be trying new techniques not seen on the high street and you will be able to get up close to handmade garments to asses quality. Follow that university or college on twitter, or send an e-mail direct to the institution, and if you have friends who are arts students, hassle them to take you along and use those contacts! There is an amazing boutique stocking graduate collections from the university in my nearest city, so I always go there for inspiration too.
One of my favourite ethical brands is 'Tara Starlet'. In 2008, I went to an ethical fashion forum event at UWE, Tara Starlet (the actual lady) was there, representing her brand and introducing the 'Blood, sweat and T-shirts' the BBC documentary she had filmed in India. I was 15, and she made a big impression on me. I have been a fan ever since! Her garments are vintage inspired (transcending the trends) and made with end of roll fabric, and produced in London. Currently, the green girlfriend coat from Tara is beautiful. It may seem pricey at first glance, however the average 'Zara'' winter coat retails for £99. Tara's coat is made in London, in adequate working conditions, using ethically sourced fabric and buttons in 100% wool. This coat is going to last AGES. The vintage style is absolutely gorgeous with such a flattering silhouette when worn. The oversize fit of the coat permits generous layering too. If this coat was my lover, we would be a perfect match.
Finally George Lois, author of "Damn Good Advice (For People with Talent!)" sums up why you are far more stylish without the fashion trends. Lois is talking about advertising, however his principles apply to the world of fashion:
"The solution to each new problem or challenge should begin with a blank canvas and an open mind, not with the nervous borrowings of other people’s mediocrities. That’s precisely what "trends" are--a search for something "safe"--and why a reliance on them leads to oblivion. (...)Trends can tyrannize; trends are traps. In any creative industry, the fact that others are moving in a certain direction is always proof positive, at least to me, that a new direction is the only direction."
So please, read my blog with an open mind. I am only trying to save you from a trap, and the ordinary ideas of what other people think fashion should be. Each and every person is unique and distinctive, and there is no reason why your clothes cannot be a part of that.
And if you bought a Pink coat this winter, more specifically a wool coat, light pink in color; with over-sized buttons- it is guaranteed, you will have dumped that lover by next winter.
So stay unfashionable,
Elodie x
Follow the trends and you will fade away.
If you follow fashion trends, you will fade into the background. You will look like everyone else, everyone else will look like you. There are a number of factors that contribute to this fashion clone phenomenon; Home craftsmanship has seen a sudden and sharp decline compared to mere decades ago, when making clothing was a part of daily life. Time-consuming crafts like home sewing, knitting and customisation are the most unique, high quality and affordable ways to look high fashion. Coupled with the rapid growth of high-street fashion for teens and twenty-somethings, we are now spoilt for choice, but many of the largest and well-known clothes shops produce very similar garments. Furthermore, prices are lower than they have ever been for clothing,and at these low prices, why invest more time, more money and effort with your wardrobe?
 |
| An image from brothers we stand. A really cool online shop for guys and they have an amazing blog on the web store too! |
I honestly do not wish to sound overly preachy. It IS tempting to cut costs when it comes to buying clothing. For most, the plight of the people who made that cheap top, is definitely not the first thing that comes to mind when out and about shopping. It also may appear hopeless to change this establishment of cheap labour, but there are ways around it and they can be really fun!
There is Vintage, thrifting, ethical brands, up-cycling (remaking),Swishing parties (clothes swapping) and even having a go at creating a garment yourself. These techniques of sourcing your style, will bring an inevitable unique quality to your wardrobe so it is win win. You get gorgeous clothes, workers will get an improved way of life as you chose to shop ethically, and waste is diminished as you work with clothes you already own. With the rise of social media, we have worldwide communication for free at our fingertips and you can easily find vintage/thrift stores online, new and upcoming ethical brands (with costs not dissimilar to 'Zara' or 'Urban Outfitters') and can find amazing events such as vintage fairs,markets and swishing in your local area (i will write further about the excitement of swishing in a future blog post and how to find ethical brands etc.). So there really is no excuse to end up with the 'it' coat next winter. Also known, as the coat everyone and their mother will be wearing next winter.
 |
A lovely Mackintosh from the S/S 2014 collection from www.mackintosh.com |
Mackintosh still make all their coats in the UK and there is an amazing video showing the manufacturing process using rubber goo (and a darling vintage advert) right here . The company strength to keep manufacture in the UK, alongside the iconic design, is absolutely the ideal when it comes to the ethical considerations. This coat will last your AGES, and is exceptionally well-made. You have also supported the workers of the UK by buying it. Did I mention they are gorgeous? If iIhad the means to buy a new one I would, but I hope to stumble across a vintage gem one day.. Also, they look amazing on both men and women.
In the same vein, a vintage 'Burberry' or 'Aquascutum' trench would also be amazing. You have the classic design, with the style kudos of a British heritage brand. I advise to buy vintage because Burberry no longer manufacture here in the UK at all. According to a 2012 article from the Guardian, Burberry shifted it's production to china at a cost of 600 UK jobs, in order to boost profit margins. Aquascutum currently produce 16% of their clothing in the UK. Vintage is a way to give a pre-owned coat a new lease of life. If that vintage/ thrift smell freaks you out (it doesn't bother me, I must confess), get it dry cleaned and it will be like having a spangly new designer coat. Also, you can usually have the fit altered in a garment, either at the dry cleaners or an alterations shop. This will ensure a perfect fit if you have bought vintage. However, an over-sized classic trench always looks amazing. The oversize fit is seen in many a street-style snap and will always fit because you may never grow out of it! About 12 jumpers can also be worn underneath that oversize trench, when things get arctic with no problem.
My last tip is to keep up to date with up-and-coming ethical brands and new British designers. If you can, keep your ear to the ground if any local arts universities are near you. The fashion/textile graduates will have a final show, and you never know, you could get to witness a real-life catwalk show! This is also a great way to look at the future of fashion. Students will be trying new techniques not seen on the high street and you will be able to get up close to handmade garments to asses quality. Follow that university or college on twitter, or send an e-mail direct to the institution, and if you have friends who are arts students, hassle them to take you along and use those contacts! There is an amazing boutique stocking graduate collections from the university in my nearest city, so I always go there for inspiration too.
 |
| The Tara Starlet 'Girlfriend Coat' available in Blue from the 4th of March. Gorgeous vintage inspired ethical pieces can be found on her website http://www.tarastarlet.com |
One of my favourite ethical brands is 'Tara Starlet'. In 2008, I went to an ethical fashion forum event at UWE, Tara Starlet (the actual lady) was there, representing her brand and introducing the 'Blood, sweat and T-shirts' the BBC documentary she had filmed in India. I was 15, and she made a big impression on me. I have been a fan ever since! Her garments are vintage inspired (transcending the trends) and made with end of roll fabric, and produced in London. Currently, the green girlfriend coat from Tara is beautiful. It may seem pricey at first glance, however the average 'Zara'' winter coat retails for £99. Tara's coat is made in London, in adequate working conditions, using ethically sourced fabric and buttons in 100% wool. This coat is going to last AGES. The vintage style is absolutely gorgeous with such a flattering silhouette when worn. The oversize fit of the coat permits generous layering too. If this coat was my lover, we would be a perfect match.
Finally George Lois, author of "Damn Good Advice (For People with Talent!)" sums up why you are far more stylish without the fashion trends. Lois is talking about advertising, however his principles apply to the world of fashion:
"The solution to each new problem or challenge should begin with a blank canvas and an open mind, not with the nervous borrowings of other people’s mediocrities. That’s precisely what "trends" are--a search for something "safe"--and why a reliance on them leads to oblivion. (...)Trends can tyrannize; trends are traps. In any creative industry, the fact that others are moving in a certain direction is always proof positive, at least to me, that a new direction is the only direction."
So please, read my blog with an open mind. I am only trying to save you from a trap, and the ordinary ideas of what other people think fashion should be. Each and every person is unique and distinctive, and there is no reason why your clothes cannot be a part of that.
And if you bought a Pink coat this winter, more specifically a wool coat, light pink in color; with over-sized buttons- it is guaranteed, you will have dumped that lover by next winter.
So stay unfashionable,
Elodie x
I remember Tara....and that day really well......and fondly! XXX Mum
ReplyDelete