The Cliché That is Fashion

The "Cliché" that is Fashion

I think that fashion is something people tend to underestimate in life -it is never given its full praise and merit for what it truly achieves. Fashion seems idealistic but in truth, it is not only in that dress that catches your eye in River Island, it is all around us. Fashion is in the time we live -modernity and an idea is all it takes to fit into that ever changing philosophy that influences the design of that same dress. For us teenagers, I suppose, it is unthinkable that we be expected to employ the fashion of the time -I, myself, live on whatever I scrounge at Christmas from my generous aunts and I am aware others are not even that lucky.

However, as is the case, actions speak louder than words -and so does what you wear. I am not going to tell you that you should go to the nearest shop and buy the place out, I don't expect anyone to do that but I think it is a fairly conceivable idea that we should at least try to look nice. In the words of Mademoiselle Coco Chanel -a girl must be two things: classy and fabulous. And despite the popular opinion, it does not break the bank in the slightest, all it takes is a good idea and your own tastes. Tasteful, I find is an unreliable adjective because of the simple fact that tastes are not universal as the word seems to promote. So, you should rely on your own instincts and not even your best friend should be able to tell you that it doesn't look good if you think it does.

I have found that the best thing to do in our unstable economic conditions as students, is to get a job as soon as possible and until then, collect different items of clothing that catch your eye -jackets, skirts, shoes, cool pants. Then, with even the most basic wardrobe and a few accessories, one can change that jacket into a fully-fledged outfit which undoubtedly has the power to transform your image. Clothes have that power; something I have always found uncanny about textiles and materials is how something so limp and lifeless can be combined with a woman and both will be changed.

In saying that, I know a lot of people will dismiss this at once because of it being about fashion but I would be in much more support of style; as Oscar WIlde once truthfully stated, fashion is something so ugly it must be altered every three months. I had never thought about it before, but it's true and of course as it is something I hold dear to my heart, I was stung. Then I realised that it is style which is fundamental in clothes, not fashion. Some women, however, dismiss the fanciful idea of fashion as submitting to the fluffiness men always suspected in us women but I see it as the most fore-frontal way to express your creativity and as I have said -clothes do say a lot about who you are.

People might disagree but in most cases those people don't tend to care about their appearance and throw on "whatever"; but you see, aren't these people instantly recognizable by what they wear? Everyone has a burgeoning fashionista inside of them and style is without a doubt the most subtle way of expressing your feminity to others, I mean fashion and style among women is an idea passed down from generation to generation, being sustained by something that as of yet, seems to be unshakable in the world. Every era has its own style and it is women who usually lead the way as men watch in a mix of wonder and confusion, except if they are those behind the scenes designing the dresses and making these women their catapult of ideas.

For us teenagers, I think it is important we accept fashion in our society because despite its unnerving near-uselessness, it's going to be around tomorrow and the day after and most likely, this date in ten years time. For now, let's embrace the new trends of the onesies and inevitably, the twenties, the thirties and so on into the twenty-first century. For those of you who remain skeptical about fashion, I fear I shall never sway your mind (and I respect that) but promise me that even if you forsake fashion, keep style close to you always; in your handbag and the way you walk. Audrey Hepburn once said, "Walk with the knowledge that you are never alone".


'Til next time,


Arma (Armadillo).