Bad Taste Is Good Taste: The Return Of Trailer-Trash Chic
A few years ago, I found myself in a rare situation where I was chatting to Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen about which fashion capital is the most pioneering. I was living in New York at the time and missing home tremendously so of course my instant retort was my city, London. The girls strongly disagreed and started reciting a soliloquy dedicated to their love for Paris (where they will be showing their collection for the first time this season). Now, of course it is undeniable that Parisian designers and fashion houses have an elegance that is entirely unique, but in my humble opinion, there is no denying the massive impact Brits have on the industry as a whole. Anna Wintour? British. Camilla Nickerson? British. David Sims? British. Katie Grand? British. Pheobe Philo? British. Alexander McQueen? British. The list is endless and so is the talent.
At the time, the incredibly stylish twosome felt that Londoners were on the wrong side of unkempt and lacking in the ability to put themselves ‘together’. I sat there and listened, agreeing invariably as I was unsure of how to answer back to the world’s wealthiest and most powerful twins. Later that night we all went to a party; the girls wore Alaia and Louboutin, I wore Portabello Market and Topshop.
With the whole world tuning in to camel coats and cream silk blouses buttoned up to the collar, it was obvious that this season, London was going to rebel big-time and in the biggest fuck-off way possible. The main emphasis? Bad taste can be good taste. Of course, Giles led the pack with pal and stylist Katie Grand…
WAG, Abbey Clancy (for those who don’t know, WAG is ‘wives and girlfriends’ of famous football players) and Britain’s Next Top Model alum walks for Giles as well as posing for Katie Grand’s LOVE…
Richard Nicoll used ‘sleaze’ as inspiration for his peach patent leather dress
Topshop Unique proves you can stomp on high-fashion rules with perspex hooker heels and having one of the strongest collections (priced mostly under £200)
Fashion East’s Heikki Salonen breaks the cardinal rule of pairing socks with sandals. Not just any sandals, Birkenstocks
Provocatively harnessed leather, voodoo tattoos surrounding the female form, Joan Jett trailer trash mullets were to be seen at at Marios Schwab.
Awkwardly brilliant lampshade skirts at Mary Katrantzou.
“Princess Margaret on acid” was Christopher Kane’s point of reference for the season.
Mark Fast continues to pioneer by using deliciously curvy plus size models.
I wont go in to too much detail as to why the Meadham Kirchoff boys are currently Kings of rebellion…
So there you have it! It may not be your thing but one thing’s for certain, you will NEVER be bored at London Fashion Week…
On a side note, Mary-Kate and Ashley were remarkably down-to-earth and completely comfortable with poking fun of themselves. Just like in this recent Ellen Degeneres clip here:
I’ve been subscribed to the Style.com runway feed and have looked at each SS2011RTW collection as they’ve rolled in. Once NYFW was over and London started up, really the difference was HUGE. I saw a lot less “wearable” things (for the masses) and a TON of innovation that was missing from the NY shows.
Hmm, Katie Grand has FAR too much power I think (sorry, I hated the Topshop show and all this ‘ironic’ use of tabloid celebs is wearing thin).
Tired and grumpy of Kensal Green
Hello tired and grumpy! Don’t blame you…
Being more of a classicist myself, I have never been a huge fan of Katie Grand’s aesthetic but do feel things would be a hell of a lot more boring without her influence.
Loved the Topshop collection! However not as much as when Jane How was around…
As for the celebs, my inner gay man did a little yelp when Kelly Brook and Abbey walked. If only because I can imagine how exciting it must be for them to have a moment of being taken semi-seriously for a fleeting fashion moment. I enjoy when fashion has a moment of democratization.
I’ve always thought London was where the most interesting stuff came from- maybe it’s not as technically refined, but it’s def. got great ideas to take away.
And the most interesting magazines seem to come from the UK in droves, too- I mean, think about it. Lula? British. i-D? British. POP? British. 10 ? British (I loooove its bitchiness). Tank? British. Dazed&Confused/AnOther? British. Exit? British. And let me say it, British Elle is the coolest mainstream English-language fashion magazine by miles, anywhere in the world. I could go on an infititum- sure, there’s interesting titles from Australia, Germany, France and Japan too, but at least as far as mags in English go, it’s kind of Rule Britannia.
I think LOVE falls a bit flat as a magazine TBH, but Katie Grand’s pushed the T&A into fashion before- its first issue had a spread with Kelly Brook, styled and done to the nines in proper ‘fashion’ clothes.
And WHOA! at the boobs on Abby! Does pregnancy do that so early? (my inner football fan was sad to hear that her knocker-upper of a boyfriend cheated on her, though)
I’m going to send this post to my mom – she loves trailer trash fashion :)