Vivienne Westwood thinks modern women are too cheap to be stylish.
The 70 year old British designer, known for her eclectic fashion range says “blatant consumerism” has left us with no sense of style.
Basically if you a) dress for comfort or b) dress to blend in, then Westwood thinks you’re both dull and un-inspiring.
“Everyone looks like clones, only people my age look any good,” she told The Daily Mail at London Fashion Week. In London, this week.
The Westwood name means serious business in the high fashion world. It’s also synonymous with history, particularly the Victorian era. Westwood herself bears a striking resemblance to Queen Elizabeth 1. A figure that she describes as a true fashion icon.
Perhaps this is why Westwood clings to the idea that modern fashion should be dramatic. But times have changed, Ms Westwood. Not everyone wants to get about wearing a corset. Nor do we want to fork out most of our yearly salary for the privilege.
Besides, there are much worse crimes committed against fashion than wearing a cheap pair of pants.
Being a slave to fashion is one of them. Like people who intentionally purchase items of clothing with fake wear and tear. Ripped jeans and torn shirts. That’s offensive. Ditto the label hound. A fancy tag across your bum or along the arm of your silky sleeve doesn’t mean you look good. Only clothes that suit you can do that.
Same goes for wearing running shoes with anything but Lyrca. And wearing Lyrca with anything but running shoes. Actually that’s the worst. Shame it’s so comfortable.
Then there’s the people who don’t dress appropriately for the season. A friend told me about a recent trip to Hong Kong where despite steamy temperatures, women were walking around in fur coats and long leather boots. Items they’d copied from the pages of fashion magazines from Europe, where it was winter.
Modern style is all about wearing clothes that flatter your shape and can be worn with very little fuss. They’re simple and versatile, can be bought off the hanger and washed in a washing machine. They also have to be comfortable. Especially here in Australia.
Two prominent Australian fashion and design bloggers, Louise Bell and Paula Joye both post regular photos of the clothes they’re wearing that day on their respective blogs. Despite very different styles, the two women are particularly good at mixing more expensive clothes with cheaper basic ones for a great look, that’s easy for anyone to copy. Or at least “borrow”.
And that’s the greatest thing about cheap fashion. It’s entirely up to the individual how it’s worn. Seven people can buy the same top and end up wearing it in seven different ways. Style doesn’t have to come down to buying the most expensive or high fashion item. Just like lots of money doesn’t always equate to good taste. Or good sense.
So buy that cheap dress and wear it with pride. Just don’t expect it to last more than a couple of washes.
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