Fashionable Victims
Has anyone noticed how Shoreditch has become an eclectic mix of fashion students and fashion victims?
The amount of variation and cringe-worthy 'styles' on abundant display is hard to miss. Sadly what most folks seem to overlook is the fact that attractive people can wear anything and still look attractive. Ugly people can't. This applies as much to fashion students as to fashion victims. Traditionally fashion victims were at the mercy of the whims of the high street and the pop video. Now that Shoreditch and its associated 'scenes' has become a magnet for hyperbohemes (artists/graphic designers with shares), this distinction is becoming blurred. I will bet a not inconsiderable amount of my vital organs that 99% of the 'Hoxtonites' will look back in a year's time and feel physically sick at the clothes and haircuts they've sported. The Mullet is a perfect example; Kevin Keegan and Chris Waddle aren't exactly proponents of good taste, and even they are embarrassed by the neck-licking Teutonic heavy metal 'dos they sported in their youth. I mean, name one person who isn't particularly attractive to start with who actually looks good with a full-blown mullet!
I can't either. Then again, I don't care. I didn't have a mullet in the eighties, and I'm not about to have one now.
The problem with the 'Ditch fashion scene is the predictability and complete lack of novel thought which goes into forging what could be considered a hip attire. Six years ago I predicted that it was but a question of time before fluorescent clothes (and indeed the blindingly pathetic designer mullet) would come back in fashion. It seems in order to be hip in the 'Ditch you have to take all the worst elements of eighties fashion, mix it up with hi-tech trainers and designer beards and hey presto! Most of these folks haven't even heard of Duran Duran, let alone owned a Commodore 64.
So what does the future hold for Shoreditch fashionistas? Who gives a shit? Well.. they probably do, but that doesn't mean we have to. So let them think they're alternative, that they are cool and that wearing bright pink leggings with a stonewash denim vest over a charity shop sweater with the ubiquitous mullet / fin is the be all and end all. In a few years they'll be suited and booted, looking after their stocks and reporting to board meetings, whilst the real artists and genuine trend setters move to Whitechapel.
The amount of variation and cringe-worthy 'styles' on abundant display is hard to miss. Sadly what most folks seem to overlook is the fact that attractive people can wear anything and still look attractive. Ugly people can't. This applies as much to fashion students as to fashion victims. Traditionally fashion victims were at the mercy of the whims of the high street and the pop video. Now that Shoreditch and its associated 'scenes' has become a magnet for hyperbohemes (artists/graphic designers with shares), this distinction is becoming blurred. I will bet a not inconsiderable amount of my vital organs that 99% of the 'Hoxtonites' will look back in a year's time and feel physically sick at the clothes and haircuts they've sported. The Mullet is a perfect example; Kevin Keegan and Chris Waddle aren't exactly proponents of good taste, and even they are embarrassed by the neck-licking Teutonic heavy metal 'dos they sported in their youth. I mean, name one person who isn't particularly attractive to start with who actually looks good with a full-blown mullet!
I can't either. Then again, I don't care. I didn't have a mullet in the eighties, and I'm not about to have one now.
The problem with the 'Ditch fashion scene is the predictability and complete lack of novel thought which goes into forging what could be considered a hip attire. Six years ago I predicted that it was but a question of time before fluorescent clothes (and indeed the blindingly pathetic designer mullet) would come back in fashion. It seems in order to be hip in the 'Ditch you have to take all the worst elements of eighties fashion, mix it up with hi-tech trainers and designer beards and hey presto! Most of these folks haven't even heard of Duran Duran, let alone owned a Commodore 64.
So what does the future hold for Shoreditch fashionistas? Who gives a shit? Well.. they probably do, but that doesn't mean we have to. So let them think they're alternative, that they are cool and that wearing bright pink leggings with a stonewash denim vest over a charity shop sweater with the ubiquitous mullet / fin is the be all and end all. In a few years they'll be suited and booted, looking after their stocks and reporting to board meetings, whilst the real artists and genuine trend setters move to Whitechapel.
posted by tseuq at 6/15/2005 02:57:00 pm
2 Comments:
Hi Carlsson,
I would love to comment but I have no idea where "the ditch" is and what the hell is hoxton? I am a simple peasant from the low countries so fashion is unknown to me. I still enjoy reading it though. Keep going! (HENK)
Shoreditch is an area in East London, sort of sandwiched between the City, Brick Lane and South Hackney. It is an ubertrendy place right now, and it happens to be where I currently work. It is so hyper-boheme that it borders on the insane. I love it.
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