This week I have been going through the British papers and read with interest what was happening with London Fashion Week.
The look from the audience was black. As in long black hair, short black dresses, black tights and black high-heeled ankle boots, a very Melbournian look if I might say so myself (and a look I was sporting this winter…well without the black hair. Nice to know I was ‘fashion forward’.).
One article caught my attention though, it was regarding Vivienne Westwood and it wasn’t her red label collection that caught my eye (which was gorgeous, by the way) which was being showcased at London Fashion week but what Vivienne has been saying. “Stop all this consumerism. “I just tell people, stop buying clothes. Why not protect this gift of life while we have it? I don’t take the attitude that destruction is inevitable. Some of us would like to stop that and help people survive.” Hmm ok…. how will that help the bottom line of fashion houses and future collections if no one buys them?!? Isn’t the point of fashion to showcase their talent and to get people to buy their ready to wear collections? If customers didn’t purchase their lines, then there wouldn’t be a fashion industry.
Vivienne Westwood has advised fashion followers not to buy any new clothes for six months. The iconic British designer – who showcased her Red Label spring/summer 2011 collection at London Fashion Week last night (19.09.10) – made the unusual move of asking her fans to avoid buying anything new for half a year, suggesting quality, rather than quantity, is more important when it comes to clothing. She said: ‘My message is choose well and buy less. Don’t buy anything new for six months and recycle your clothes.’ I have always been a believer in the ‘you get what you pay for’ or ‘poor man buys twice’ lines of philosophy.
Plain white man style shirts never go out of fashion and look great with pants, jeans, leggings, denim or pencil skirts, cargos or even a body con skirt if you are daring enough and can be dressed up or down. Wear with leggings or skinny jeans and a gorgeous scarf for shopping, add a trench coat if it is cool, with some cute ballet flats or loafers and you have a very stylish look.
A beautifully cut blazer is an other versatile piece that can be worn with anything. I usually pop mine on over a 3/4 or regular tee shirt if I need to go out. A blazer also looks fantastic with jeans, cargos, dresses, skirts or leggings (over a tunic/ long top). Add a scarf and/ or a broach for added style. I have a gorgeous Country Road blazer and I have had so much wear out it. It goes with anything and was definitely worth the money I spent on it.
Cardigans are so cute and feminine. Like blazers, they can be worn with anything and are fantastic for popping on in Spring/ Summer when it is a bit cooler. A cute cardi over a singlet top, cami, tank top with a gorgeous skirt looks fabulous. They also look fantastic with floral dresses and maxi skirts/ dresses.
Cargo pants are such a wise investment and are perfect for mums on the go and the best part is this season they are huge again. Wear them with cute sandshoes or flats for during the day with a plain tee and denim jacket or team them with heels and a fabulous top/ cami for going out at night.
Scarves can make any outfit look stylish. If Im wearing a tee shirt with jeans or cargos and need to go out somewhere I just add a scarf and voila! instant chic!
I agree with you that a piece of jewellery can instantly add chic to an outfit. As a student and on a budget, just a few pieces of fabulous jewellery instantly dressed up my outfit for prac.
And to answer your question – yes I can go without buying clothes for six months – i was married to a man who wouldn’t let me have my own bank account! No money = no clothes.
Believe it or not, I once didn’t buy any clothes for a year. Crazy I know. I’m slowly getting better at it, all I do now is buy a bulk load each season.
As a Fashion Student I created complete pandemonium by agreeing with Vivienne’s philosophy.
I don’t think I’d take it to the extreme of not buying anything for six months, but would far rather save up for longer and get a few things that will last a long time and I really want than buy a whole new wardrobe every season.
The ammount of perfectly good clothes that go into landfill each year is pretty disgusting when you think about it.