Spring arrived and officially the '70s vibe the runway perspired for this season trickled down. No signs of stopping.
Ever fascinating Suzy Menkes' latest column questions what is it that made the contraddictory return of the Seventies, otherwise known as 'the era that taste forget'. She recalls a conversation with Yves Saint Laurent, compares the denigratory and outraged press that his 1971 Scandale collection received and wondorously concludes that most probably current designers went a trip down their youth memory lane.
High waisted denim, A-line skirts, suede, fringes, vertiginous platforms or mocassins, bohemian dresses, long, flowy and sheer is what comes to mind together with Jane Birkin and Brigitte Bardot.
I am going to say 'street style' but I want you to stick with me.
I will not pontificate. I am going to roll out my opinion through a chain of thoughts: let me be your Happy Potter.
“From outbound to inbound.”
The concept was born in the '60s, and it meant tribes of individuals freely expressing themselves through style,what they were wearing and the way they were styling their wardrobe at their own paste and taste. Ted Polhemus has been the most prolific sociologist to collect, describe and document how fashion has taken inspiration from the streets. One of his books, published twice and accompanied by an exhibit at London's V&A, witnessed the evolution of Street Style: from Sidewalk to Catwalk by showcasing how style found in the streets, spontaneous, genuine and bountiful of self-expression has been a long time inspiration for fashion designers.
Now fast forward to today, or let's say, yesterdayear.
A lot has been said about the current state of "street style" affairs, including that it's dead or false. But, what is it? It involves a crop of popular gamines, bloggers or influencers, wearing sample-size dresses of whatever season is about to hit the stores, accessorized by their own team of videographer, photographer, social media manager, living in an eternal state of photoshoot - take the picture, post the picture, work a new "secret project" post it on their blog and so on.
See the difference?
In the late '60s it was bringing your way of dressing out in the streets and there it was staying, outside. Birkin and Bardot defined an era by wearing their bikinis and basket bag just because they were naturally and uniquely chic and elegant (ok, gorgeous too).
Nowadays, until someone really pronounces it dead or unreal, the chosen influencers get showered with gifts of what brands and designers want to fly out of the shelves, put them on, go out in the streets, get snapped and photoshopped professionally and send them back to their millions of followers through their social media profiles.
Both cases are the equivalent of wearing clothing with a purpose, but, chronologically we go from wearing whatever you want and becoming an icon, to making money out of other people's buying what you have been gifted to wear.
So, after my Edna Mode exploit, let's go back to the Seventies and all there was so good that it came back.
The instructions to read this redux is: keep your style in mind, don't delve into a trend just because it's allover.
If it doesn't feel or look good to your eyes, it won't work just because the magazines tell you so.
Just pass, there's always something you will be able to embrace and wear that will make you feel at rhythm with the times and magazines.
Be aware of the "It" anything, it most probably costs an arm and a leg, it may look good on paper, it will be stored next season and you will end up looking like everyone you follow on Instagram and who pins on Pinterest.
“I often said I wish I had invented blue jeans: the most spectacular, the most practical, the most relaxed and nonchalant. They have expression, modesty, sex appeal, simplicity - all I hope for in my clothes”
Denim for everybody, seems like a liberating slogan like "free the nipple".
Dust off what's been lingering in the closet, store skinnies (F I N A L L Y), dark washes and wide legs are a must, they are the best trick to elongate the legs and they go to work and after work.
Let the pant do the legwork.
Wider leg, cropped hem, add super luxe materials like suede and croc and it becomes a dusted modern '70s interpretation.
Flared denim: we can finally declare the skinny DEAD (let's not tell the Kardashians)
Patchwork denim: daring alternative, MUST be watchful not to do the scarecrow performance.
Denim salopette: glorious with a blazer, A-line skirt and knee hight boots
Denim on denim: this is the mother of all mothers.
P.S. this is actually denim on chambrai, but it gives the idea.
The A-line skirt.
Vintage sounding indeed, especially when it's suede. The denim skirt buttoned in the front can be made actural with kitten heels and a trench or your classic navy blazer.
Long bohemian dress.
The long, swirly, flow-y, easy-breezy chiffon dress
Fringes.
Yes, but be cautious, life's not Coachella.
Shoes.
Make a statement: the saucier the platform is the better it is, be bold, think about the bachelorette party scene of Mamma Mia, be yourself, have fun BUT don't dress up. Two things I should add: stay away from knock-offs (by that I mean don't pretend to substitute the Saint Laurent with some King's Cross street market pleather concoction) and the good thing about the platform is that they are comfortable.
All pictures are from Pinterest.