For centuries, fashion operated as a top-down system. The concept of "fashion" as we now know it Big-Banged into being when Marie Antoinette appointed her dressmaker Rose Bertin as "Minister of Fashion" at the court of Louis XVI. Whatever Marie Antoinette wore (she was the original KOL!) trickled down as fashion trends through the aristocrats, then to the tradespeople, and the masses - cake, crumb and pink wig powder. She was known to have whims.
This pyramid model of fashion remained intact over the centuries, varying but slightly up to recent times: What generations of people wore was dictated by just a mere handful of queen bee designers and editors, no questions asked. However, this elitist hierarchy bears zero resemblance to the way fashion functions today. Designers and editors are no longer the only gatekeepers, and the people pushing the sartorial trends forward are just as likely to be a Kardashian or an art school student.
Thanks to the pervasive death grip of social media, trends now filter up, rather than down. Because the base is always as wide as it is heterogeneous, there are no defining trends now, unlike the hippie movement of the 1970s, or the excess of the 1980s, where a set of dominant aesthetics ruled the way we dressed.
SAME, SAME AND NOT AT ALL DIFFERENT
In the age of inclusivity, fashion has become decidedly non-prescriptive. When everyone is suddenly a fashion expert on the podiums of different platforms, every impassioned view suddenly becomes relevant, and everything becomes a micro trend. When everything is in, then nothing is out: You wear whatever makes you feel best, even if it's dad jeans and Crocs.
Denne historien er fra December 2023-utgaven av Her World Singapore.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra December 2023-utgaven av Her World Singapore.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Heritage in a Bottle
Crafted by Swiss perfumer Christine Nagel, Barenia is the first chypre fragrance from Hermes, a seductive scent that is a dance between the delicate butterfly lily and the vibrant burst of miracle berry.
Is my adult acne caused by hormonal changes?
Quinn Chen answers.
BEST IN CLASS
MOVING AWAY FROM INTRODUCING ENTIRELY NEW PRODUCTS, BRANDS SUCH AS SHISEIDO, CLE DE PEAU BEAUTE AND SULWHASOO HAVE CHOSEN TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD TO ELEVATE TRIED-AND-TRUE FORMULAS. THESE ICONIC CLASSICS ARE MORE EFFICACIOUS AND LUXURIOUS THAN BEFORE.
Sneak Peek
We've got our sights set on these new must-haves that promise to breathe new life into tired-looking eyes.
ACTS OF SERVICE
Beauty brands are enticing customers with a range of in-store treatments and services that offer expert tips, demonstrations and pampering.
BREAKING DOWN THE BENEFITS OF HYALURONIC ACID
Here's why this popular skincare ingredient is a potent fix for dehydrated complexions.
November favourites
Here are some of the must-haves you will not regret adding to your beauty shelf.
Against the rules
Step into the dark side with grunge-inspired moody tones and smoky, smudgy eyes.
Is it ever a good idea to engage in online discourse?
Sarah Bagharib answers.
GO WITH THE FLOW
Half a month in Mongolia living with nomadic families and exploring the country's storied beauty taught senior advertising strategist Uli Chan the beauty of impermanence.