When I read this article in the New York Times I just had to write about it. It is an interesting move. Put succinctly, it is youngish women adopting or returning to classic items such as a Balmain blazer that are associated with luxury designer brands. In my opinion, to buy purely based on brand name is putting yourself in the ‘follower’ category as much as is following fashion. You are still a follower, but you are following something else.

While I fully endorse NOT following fashion, and instead developing your own sense of personal style that may or may not include some elements that are ‘in fashion’ this particular movement intrigues me.

The classic clothes favoured by the women in the article still represent a particularly strong style. It is a conservative, upper middle class one that is also predominantly WASPy (and dare I say, entitled?). Worn with irony or teamed with less expected items can of course bring a whole different meaning to the individual items and an outfit overall but these women are wearing them with no twist.

It doesn’t surprise me that this article hails from the US. My experience liaising with style colleagues in both the US and elsewhere has confirmed for me that the US is fairly conservative when compared globally and nods strongly towards corporate wear.

I was never a fan of normcore aesthetics; basically wearing really plain and ordinary casual clothes, though I fully embrace the comfort of the style! Normcore only ever looked good on the super young and gorgeous wearer but of course, what wouldn’t? Perhaps this is normcore for the more socially aspirational wearer?

If you really want to differentiate yourself from being a follower of fashion, develop your own style. There are a few elements to consider here; determining what colours you like and that suit you, experimenting with silhouettes that sit on your body shape comfortably, deciding how your personality can be expressed through print, clothing style and accessories, acknowledging your values and acting on them when you purchase your clothing, where you sit on the modesty vs showy axis and many, many more!

Have a read and see what you make of it! Fashion? They’re Over It