The fashion microcosm
August 2nd 2009 12:11
Reading fashion blogs from other parts of the globe is always an eye-opening experience. It's only natural that different parts of the world will be more accepting of some trends and less of others, and also they'll pick up on these trends at different times, often with a lag factor of two years or more. But what is most interesting is how fashion blogs from the same country will differ in their analysis of the key looks of the moment. This is not because the person writing the blog is clueless, or making up the trends themselves, but because of what I've called the 'fashion microcosm'.
The concept of the fashion microcosm essentially recognises that, even though there are major clothing trends that permeate each society as a whole, the fashions will differ in smaller societal groups. Each city, region or town will have a slightly different style of dress to the next, and the microcosms can be even smaller than that. What is trendy at one high school can be passe at another. I've noticed it at my University, too: nearly every girl you see right now is wearing leggings and ugg boots, even though A-list celebrities ditched that look years ago and students wouldn't wear that outfit at another University less than 30km away.
In every circumstance, the fashion microcosm will supersede the larger-scale trends. It's what defines each smaller society within the society at large. This is not to say that you can't get inspiration from other microcosms; on the contrary, this is largely how new trends develop. But it must be a gradual process, and ultimately only undertaken by the real trendsetters within each individual microcosm.
But fashion is an art, not a science, so that's enough scientific terminology for one day! Whatever your fashion circle, being conscious of international trends won't do you any harm, and can often be a major source of inspiration.
A no-pants microcosm perhaps?
The concept of the fashion microcosm essentially recognises that, even though there are major clothing trends that permeate each society as a whole, the fashions will differ in smaller societal groups. Each city, region or town will have a slightly different style of dress to the next, and the microcosms can be even smaller than that. What is trendy at one high school can be passe at another. I've noticed it at my University, too: nearly every girl you see right now is wearing leggings and ugg boots, even though A-list celebrities ditched that look years ago and students wouldn't wear that outfit at another University less than 30km away.
In every circumstance, the fashion microcosm will supersede the larger-scale trends. It's what defines each smaller society within the society at large. This is not to say that you can't get inspiration from other microcosms; on the contrary, this is largely how new trends develop. But it must be a gradual process, and ultimately only undertaken by the real trendsetters within each individual microcosm.
But fashion is an art, not a science, so that's enough scientific terminology for one day! Whatever your fashion circle, being conscious of international trends won't do you any harm, and can often be a major source of inspiration.
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