Fashion history tells us that social disruptions such as political and economic events like the great depression and World War II have had far greater influence on fashion than seasonal trends.

During World War II, everything from food to steel to fabrics was rationed for the war effort so our parents recycled old clothes and even curtains to make new things for their children.

Christian Dior’s New Look

The post-war years gave birth to Christian Dior’s extravagant New Look which was defined by long skirts with corset waists. This type of extreme European elegance would not have been politically acceptable during the war.

Above Photo: Duomo of Milan | Daniil Vnoutchkov on Unsplash

Luxury retail therapy is real

Today, Athleisure may encourage more people to adopt the same look in public regardless of what activity they’re engaged in, day in and day out. But for the wealthy, luxury retail therapy is very real. WWD reports that upon reopening, the Hermes boutique in Guangzhou, China brought in sales of US $2.7M in one day. While many of you continue to lounge in your leggings, the luxury sector is more resilient than most people realize.

We are all eager to return to normality – to get outside, connect with family and friends, travel beyond the borders Covid-19 has imposed upon us. Doubtless, a revival of personal style will be part of this journey. 

Australians take out the bin

Consider some of the ways that Covid-19 has already influenced fashion. In Australia, for example, women are dressing up in their wedding gowns to take out the garbage. The pictures they’re posting on Instagram – hauling trash cans to the curb in swathes of white silk, satin and chiffon – are a cheeky reminder that, these days, your bin goes out more than you do. We all have to create our own opportunities to dress up.

New York street photography evolves

Meanwhile in New York, street fashion photography has been replaced by demure images of Kate Middleton-style looks taken at home and posted each Sunday on Instagram. Though the content may have shifted to a more reserved aesthetic, even in the middle of a pandemic, many still crave those ‘likes’. 

So, fashion is still part of our lives, a way to express our moods and identities even during the most challenging of times. We will survive Covid-19 and it will change the face of fashion. 

Together, we will celebrate life and personal style once this has passed. I, for one, can’t wait to see what the next stage of fashion history will look like.

Be kind, stay home and stay safe!

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For the past two years, European designer runway collections have been taking their inspiration from 80s fashion. Remember those white tube socks worn with sandals? How about neon yellow, Hawaiian shirts and big curly permed hair? Even though many of us would like to forgot the trends of that decade, designers are mining it for fashion gems.

Bumbags

The return of the fanny pack (or as the British loving call them “bumbags” – they seem to have a thing about their posteriors) is the result of an upscale reinvention with designer fabrics and hardware and price tags to match.

Gucci calls them “belt bags” and produces luxurious quilted leather versions in bright blue and fuchsia finished with flowery embroidery and a gold logo. Louis Vuitton, meanwhile, offers up canvas or metallic “hip bags” in their classic monogram print. Given the extravagance of these high-end pieces, the humble origins of the fanny pack may come as a bit of a surprise.

Commonly referred to as buffalo bags or pouches, one of the earliest known uses of the fanny pack was by First Nations peoples in North America who wore a variation of a belt with a satchel attached.

Later, during the 15th & 16th centuries, as pockets had not yet been invented, Europeans wore small pouches tied around their waists in which they kept their valuables.

Yes, Dads

Ski patrol members in the 1960s wore fanny packs as first aid kits which popularized them with the outdoor adventure crowd. But it wasn’t until the 80’s that fanny packs became streetwear. Whether rollerblading, hiking or simply heading to the grocery store, many Dads would wear a fanny pack whenever they left the house. Yes – your Dads were ahead of the fashion curve by about 40 years.

At the turn of the century, hipsters made them a fashion staple at outdoor music festivals and nighttime raves. Today, Bella Hadid and Selena Gomez are just a few of the big A-list names swaggering around town with their bum bags and sporting the newest designer fanny packs in their instagram feeds.

Street Style

On our streets, fashionable women are wearing them cross-body with the pouch on their chest or under their shoulder.

For men, it’s definitely all about the Rambo look with larger pouches with the capacity to hold a bottle of scotch worn across the body rather than around the waist.

As the luxury designers price their modern fanny packs at up to US$1500, they are less expensive than their handbags which may be the reason that, this summer, demand has outpaced supply. Louis Vuitton boutiques now have a waiting list for their belt bags and you can bet it’s not suburban dads lining up to buy these up-market versions. It’s the fashionable set and their adherents.

The 80s fashion looks have returned. You have been forewarned.

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Like many fashion trends, rose gold first appeared on the European runways. In 2012, designers like Roberto Cavalli and Jimmy Choo offered rose gold pieces which have evolved into the metallic looks that we all see today.

Pop culture also played a significant part in this color phenomenon. The release of Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel in 2014, with its luxurious pink interiors, captivated audiences worldwide and reinforced the burgeoning trend.

Next was the introduction of the Apple iPhone 6S in September of 2015 which came in four metallic hues. The rose gold version exploded on the mass market. Millennials everywhere wanted a rose gold phone and 40% of pre-sales were for the rose gold model. As a result of its apparent popularity, in 2016 the color became the Pantone Color of the Year under the signature name of Rose Quartz. Today, you can still purchase a rose gold iPhone 7 at the Apple store.

Millennials of both genders have been in love with this unique pink shade – also referred to as Millennial Pink. A truly gender-neutral colour, actresses in all pink gowns and actors in head-to-toe pink suits are now part of the red-carpet scene in Hollywood.

Instagram feeds are a testament to the ubiquity of rose gold. The color can be found everywhere on the popular app, from posts on beauty, fashion and jewelry to images featuring home décor, wedding cakes and bridal couture.

Though the Pantone Color of the Year for 2018 is lilac, my European luxury fashion designer colleagues tell me that rose gold continues to be their number one seller especially for jewelry and accessories. In Europe, consumer researchers report that women perceive rose gold as feminine and elegant with a superior value. In Italy, rose gold kitchens are now all the rage.

Walking the fashionable streets of London, Paris and Milan this summer, you will inevitably find rose gold on the well-dressed set. From the runways of Europe to the Instagram feeds of celebrities and influencers, rose gold is still the color to beat. We haven’t tired of it yet. On the contrary, we can’t seem to get enough.

Now, where is my Swiss watch?

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