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As Bryant Park prepares for another season of high fashion, it is nearly impossible to ignore the fact that we are in the height of a recession forcing all those accustomed to extravagance to settle for necessity. Forget trends, looks of the moment, and flammable fabrics. During this period of unemployment, foreclosures, and debt, luxury has become the fundamental meaning of style. But when banks are struggling to stay open, what does luxury entail? Long gone are the days of over-priced cotton and glided soles.
Fall 2009 was all about the classic look, where must-have pieces never will go out of fashion and clothes were made to fit. Trotting down runways of Italian designers Dolce and Gabbana to American icon Ralph Lauren, the waistlines were higher and the hemlines longer, harkening back to the style of post WWII. As a result of the economical downshift, consumers are forced to invest in items that last for a while rather than a season. This transference to older styles has also removed the taboo of wearing vintage.
With the reemergence of classic style come natural fabrics such as cottons, silks, crepes, and wool. These were unlike the wave of polyester that took over from the 60’s; the latter’s looks had a set expiration date, best to use until the end of the season. Investing in natural fabrics is one of the quintessential steps of luxury. The comfort and flow of crepe pants cannot be compared to the stiffness of poly-blend cotton. The key to having luxury incorporated in one’s style is to feel and have comfort in what you wear.
In order to have luxury in one’s style, it is necessary to make style a personal statement. The essence of style is making it your own, by reworking and refitting fashion to fit the person who is wearing them. Fashion can be found in everything around us. It is in the city we live in, the music we listen to, and even the food we eat. It is what is happening during a particular era, and even a current state of mind. Fashion, like trends, is shifting in a chameleon of time. On the contrary, style is unique and depending on the individual, and so it is this mastering of personal style that leads to luxury.
An ever-changing process, fashion gives life to the once dead, kills the breathing, and forsakes the fallen. It is fashion that made underwear into outerwear, validated the idea of wearing scrunchies in public, and wearing a mass of foam on your feet, also known as crocs. But with a tighter budget, essential pieces are the fundamental makeup of a working wardrobe.
To get started with building a mature collection of clothing, there are few key pieces that have always been the staple of classic. Every woman, no matter what age group or socio-economical background should have a tailored black suit, the little black dress, and the perfect-fitting bra. With the harking back to the fashions of the 40’s, it has become even clearer that the classic understanding of the female form will always be chic.
Style is a never-ending reinvention of the self. It is personal, like a name or a signature scent. Even during a time of recession, style should never be in a state of depression.
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