As many of you know, I love famous quotes. An interesting one came across my screen the other day that gave me pause: “Fashion goes in only direction – forward – and I am a firm believer in thinking that way too.” Anna Wintour.
Wintour was an editor-in-chief for Vogue magazine. So, one could assume that she knew fashion quite well.
Anna Wintour attends the Manus x Machina Fashion in an Age of Technology Costume Institute Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2016
Though I do agree with the tail end of her quote intimating that forward thinking is the better choice, I can’t agree that fashion only moves forward.
Maybe one just needs to live long enough to wear similar – if not the same – fashion within one’s own lifetime.
I have lived through standard hemlines from mid-calf to barely coving the “essentials.” I had an assistant principal who refused to become the “hemline police,” and have to measure up from the knee.
One day several years ago, I was in a store, and the clerk asked if I’d like to look at a particular blouse. I looked at it, recognized it as having what I call the “Cher” sleeve (flares at the wrist). My reply, “No thank you. I didn’t like when it when it was in fashion the last time, and I still don’t care for it.” She me a quizzical look – too young to understand.
The flapper look returned for a while. Bell bottoms took another hasty entrance and, thankful retreat.
Though (truly) not in my lifetime, but through old film I found another fashion retread.
The past several years have brought “forward” another oldie but goodie. This “new” look of the hem arched in the front and pointed on the sides…or…the feathery points of the hem (either hem of the top or the skirt) actually is of the 1920s.
When I saw the fashion on the movie screen, I was stunned. It was as beautiful then as it is today. This is one look that can stick around for a while as far as I’m concerned.
The 1920 look isn’t quite the same as today’s fashion, but the design is obviously a redo. Oh, and if you thought those designer stockings are something new? You will be surprised to learn that it was also the fashion in the 1920s. When scandal broke out over the raised hemlines and the showing of women’s ankles and legs, fancy stockings became the rage.
I actually see fashion as a dance. Two steps back and one step forward. A little soft shoe with a kick. One step forward and two steps back. New fabrics and colors, a little bibbity bobbity boo, and voila a “new” look.
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