It’s time for seasonal fashion. Pre-Fall 2010. Goodness. Does the industry never stop?
New is fine, new drives the economy, new is new. Some of us want to wear clothing that might be called new AND classic. Luckily, some designers oblige. I find it ironic, of course, that they are dubbed, “minimalists.” I’d be more inclined to call the rest of fashion, “maximalists.” Or even, “over-the-top-ists.” Be that as it may,
Not that our ilk won’t often revert to navy cable cardigans, Ferragamo loafers, and white button downs. We will. But we, like many, also want to feel that we are participating in the ebb and flow of history. Or its decorative friend, fashion.
For us, in 2010, there are bags,
There are trousers. That’s what my mother calls pants. Anyone else out there broad-shouldered, narrow-waisted, short-legged? If so, this is a good look. Wide legs, high-ish waist, vertical columns of color. Trust me.
There are dresses, which perhaps we would wear with different shoes, or without unnecessary sheepskin, but still, there are dresses. Sheaths, in a newish color, or scuba patterns. Scuba. That’s new, I suppose, but it reminds me of a Geoffrey Beene color block dress my mother wore in London. In 1968.
And, finally, frocks. As we all have days or occasions when we cannot resist going over the top, we can go monochrome, preserving color serenity amidst structural frenzy. When we are under 25. For a Very Fancy Party.
We will, however, smile. And are unlikely to ink our ankles.
Images: (edited to repair omission of trousers link)
Valhalla Brooklyn bags via Carolyn, No.
Celine Trousers via style.com
Celine Scuba Dress and Calvin Klein Sheath via simple + pretty
Marchesa Purple Ruffles via Couture Carrie
*Columns of color idea from Imogen at Inside Out Style
31 Responses
The bags are good. I am also broad shouldered, used to be narrow waisted, and short legged. Pants are good, they can hide HIGH shoes too and I can look like I'm over midget height. Dresses are acceptable. The frock looks like a floral designer that's gone rogue. It is nice to see something I might actually wear as in the pants.
I just love that navy blue bag :)
Now that "frock"….are you serious? lol!
The mauve frock looks like it was made at a shower where women need to design a dress made out of TP….and yes 25 or under.
would love to know who makes those pants.
~janet
The Calvin Klein dress is perfection.
I'm tempted to go try it on before work tomorrow.
Though, as often happens with things I see online, it will looking nothing like that once it's on my less-than-model-esque body!
The bags are great, but I've had to shy away from big leather bags due to back and shoulder pain. The bigger they are, the more I stuff in them. The simple dresses are nice, too. And the purple pouffy number? Let's just say there's a lot going on there.
Interesting call on the trousers – am also short-legged – might give it a go if I can summon the energy. Thank you for the idea!
Those bags are bonkers though. Only for very very tall people I fear. Also, I know I would just fill it right up with absolute tosh.
My kind of bags – especially the brown one (upper left), –and trousers. The dresses and the frock? Um, not me, not even if I were 25 again.
Seriously, haven't we seen this all before?
Geoffrey Beene circa 1969 is about right.
I guess I just don;t understand the trend of purses that swallow a person up!
I <3 those fashions. Very neat..classic pieces. Except that purple dress. I'd wear it if I went out with my friends in NY.
Uh-oh, inked ankles??
I can just see my younger daughter wanting to do that to herself…
Yeah, what's with the big bags. I have a couple, and I love them. But they're soo heavy.
Another fun post.
OMG – that woman is being attacked by a lilac bush! Quick! Someone save her!!
That dress is a bridesmaid's nightmare.
Oh the bags… I think I may have found the one.
And must I be under 25 to pull off that frock? Really? Shame.
When you wear mostly-classic, only your sister knows that anything is new. Then she takes it.
I guess I'm sticking with the navy cardigan for now.
I've edited to include the trousers – they are by Celine. Phoebe Philo has a real eye for classic. I confess, I was assuming that the two bags not on a model were a little smaller than the others. I like a large bag, but not one I could sleep in. And as for the frock, well, I believe in pushing the envelope when you're young, so that you don't regret what you didn't do later on. Even lavender ruffles I suppose. Duchesse, you made me laugh out loud. My sister, luckily, only takes my clothes if I ask her to:).
I love a large bag, it's true. Problem is you can never find your cell phone when it is ringing. And you always seem to find things you never knew were in there in the first place "oh harlow, Le Creuset dutch oven, I was wondering where I put you", etc
I do love a good sheath dresses. And yes, I would wear that lilac bush in a heartbeat. Though I draw the line at inked ankles (seriously, those are painful and I am against pain).
I need an invitation to a party which would require such a frock!
thank you for a heads up on the how to tie website, a total lifesaver!
xoox
kHm
chortling here over Duchesse's comment and remembering some sibling wars over borrowed clothes. I'm glad I'm quite happy with my bags right now, 'cause if that's the direction of new, I'll pass — unless I'm looking for a new home, in which case those would just about do . . .
not sure why i'm sharing, as i want them all for myself, but several of those glorious bags are on sale (!) at valhallabrooklyn's etsy page. oh, right: i'm sharing because i have no money (thank you, vet bills!). pick a few of these up so that i might live vicariously, eh, ladies?
The trousers work for tall, narrow-shouldered and medium-waisted non-wasps as well. I like the columns of color idea. They justifies a lot of my greygreygrey outfits.
Bleh, that should have been "That justifies…" I guess it was a long day.
I loved the color block dresses in the vitrine of Ungaro's Montreal boutique during the mid 80s.
On a completely different topic, I suspect that you may have something profound to say about signet rings. If so, I'd be grateful if you'd visit chez moi, where I am looking forward to advice from gentle readers.
Really love those bags- I am in the market for a new one (have been using mine faithfully for over a year and a half). Thanks for the lovely visions!
I just have to laugh at those high waisted trousers. I could have really looked fabulous in those before two C-sections. Well, I think so. Now…more like the "before" on a makeover show.
Sheaths are also nice, and I am currently carrying a bag not unlike the ones you have featured. I can't find a thing in it, and I fully expect a small animal to emerge any day.
OMG I have SUCH a weakness for handbags! I'm ridiculous. And then once I have a zillion of them I never bother to change them out. But I MUST have them anyway …
Adooore Marchesa…XXOO
Why would anyone be not smiling in that wonderful dress?
The fashion/classic thing has been bothering me recently. I loathe to buy something that will look awful in 6 months, yet I feel very very boring in my jeans and striped tshirts. So I bought studded leggings.
Nope…scuba is not new. It's one of those things off the 80s trend checklist "designers" are using as their main textbook right now. It's one of the reasons so many little machines had to come in fat, black and bright yellow waterproof versions back in the day.
Have you seen the gosh darn hair bows they've finally found on the checklist? Knew that would be coming. So predictable.
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