The Gift & The Curse: Are The AW2011 Trends Uninspiring?
September 3, 2011 by Arash Mazinani
Filed under All Content, Gentlemen, Trends
A couple of weeks ago I brought to you the final instalment of my autumn winter 2011 menswear trend report. In that post I did express my disappointment at the trends that I’d seen this year. Which has lead me to write a post solely dedicated to that disappointment. They say no idea is original, but I just felt that a lot of the looks you could have easily predicted because they’re a winter staple more so than a trend. But I guess that is the very nature of men’s fashion… is it not? . Maybe it’s my age? You often hear the older generation chirping “we used to wear those when I was younger” in response to seeing fashion’s latest interpretation of an older trend. But is that not what fashion is about? Using that creative energy and refreshing what was old into something new? Or does the notion of recycling trends just illustrate a lack of innovation?
The Gift & The Curse
I often get jealous that women’s trends tend to move quicker, quite often you’ll see certain looks only last a season. Then when the following season comes around the looks completely changed. In men’s fashion the trends don’t tend to change as often as in womenswear. This, I feel, is both a gift and a curse. It’s great because you can invest in a certain look and not have to worry about it becoming dated as quickly as some of the womenswear trends.
What goes around comes around
Each season you see pieces that are literally one season wonders in women’s fashion. But I feel it’s sometimes a curse because you get the same looks coming through each season which can start to get uninspiring while over on the womenswear catwalks there are a lot more fresh looks being rolled out every season. I know this is a bit of a generalisation as there are probably plenty of more esoteric designers that have their own signature creative looks. But it’s the big trends and looks that filter down to the high street and become accessible to the average joe.
Cultivate Individuality
This is why it’s key to try and use what you have available to you to develop your own identity and put your own twist on your looks. Rather than solely rely on a mannequin or fashion magazine to dictate your entire outfit from head to toe. By getting creative you can keep your wardrobe fresh and inspiring when everything around you seems the very opposite. Do you. If you’re wondering exactly how you express your individuality through your clothes… well you’ll have to join me again next week when I’ll be explaining just that.
I really enjoyed hearing your voice on this subject. I find it both, a gift and a curse, that men’s fashion doesn’t move as quickly as a woman’s. I’m kinda glad I’m a woman because I the trends change so fast, but at the same time, disappointed, because not all those fast-changing trends are likable. But that would be up to the individual themselves.
xo
Yeah the key thing is that you have the trends to pick and choose which is a bit of a luxury.
I enjoy paying attention to trends, but I don’t necessarily follow them. If I like a trend from last season, I’ll find a way to re-work it into the next.
I think that’s the best way to be to be honest rather than following them religiously.
I think the only collection I have seen for A/W 2011 that I was really excited about was Orvis.
Thanks for your comment
This is the problem with most men’s fashion: it’s boring.