STYLE WITH A SMILE
When the going gets tough, the fashion gets silly. It’s out with the muted capsule wardrobe and in with the pineapples, googly eyes and emojis – preferably all at once
Fashion has gone wild ofr googly yees, a fux fur and pompoms. But is it childlike – or simply childish?
Fashion has gone a bit silly and my eight-year- old daughter, for one, is thrilled. Pieces from my wardrobe currently eliciting a giggly thumbs-up on the school run include: a crystal- eyed robot pendant from Topshop; a faintly ludicrous pink faux-fur coat; a Sophie Hulme handbag with a googly- eyed brass bag charm (the brand designs a different charm each season), and anything that involves pompoms.
Meanwhile, when I recently met a friend for a drink, she declared that, at the grand old age of 40, she’d invested in her first ever grown-up designer handbag, before proudly plonking down an Anya Hindmarch on the table. It was sophisticated taupe, butter-soft leather – and emblazoned with bonkers multicoloured Space Invaders.
Frivolities and fripperies are at every turn. When I interviewed Call the Midwife actress Helen George, she rocked up in a jaunty Charlotte Simone headpiece with Mickey Mouse-style ears, saying, ‘I find a fun hat cheers up any old outfit.’ Celebrities, from teens and 20-somethings such as model Cara Delevingne and actress Bella Thorne to 95-year- old New York fashion legend Iris Apfel, understand the lure of a playful accessory or wild print combination. After years of low-key minimalism, spearheaded by Phoebe Philo at Céline, designers have rediscovered their sense of fun and gone mad for maximalism. Gucci’s aesthetic is hugely influential (think: jump into your wardrobe covered in superglue, spin around and see what sticks). Others are going wild for emojis: Donatella Versace has created T-shirts with the brand’s Medusa logo sporting hearts for eyes or sunglasses, and even Chanel has included them among its classic tweed. Then there is the pineapple motif. Dolce & Gabbana’s pink platform sandals with pineapple heels will add fruitiness to a morning commute, while those on a high-street budget might prefer Zara’s velvet slippers on a similar theme. Also at Zara, practical trainers get a frivolous makeover – now with added pompoms.
Whether it’s ridiculously childish or refreshingly childlike is a matter of opinion, but it’s unarguable that all this silliness is a serious money-spinner. So why now? In part, it’s a reaction to turbulent socioeconomic times. As Navaz Batliwalla, fashion blogger and author of The New Garçonne, puts it: ‘We like to see the humour in even the darkest situation – it seems to bring out our personality – so in the current climate of uncertainty, sometimes something as silly as a kitsch iPhone case or cartoon T-shirt can offer a pick-me-up.’
The influence of social media is also key: the rise of the emoji, yes, but also the marketing power of Instagram and its riotously attired street-style stars. ‘It is a platform that requires instant visual impact,’ says Navaz. ‘A fun, expressive accessory is a perfect statement-maker on Instagram.’ She’s right: of the two items I
After years of minimalism, designers have rediscovered a sense of fun
bought last month – a plain black jumper and my quirky Sophie Hulme handbag – only one made it on to my social media. Then there’s the fact that fashion-loving women don’t want to fade out of the limelight as they get older. We may not want to dress like Miley Cyrus, but we’ll happily embrace a dash of pizzazz. Debra Hepburn, fashion industry power-player, says: ‘Aged 55, I still wear what I love. I hate the accepted wisdom that as we get past 30, 40, 50 or 60 we have to be grown-up and serious about the way we dress. ‘I often fight against an inclination to revert to wearing black and more than ever I am drawn towards vibrant colours, prints, textures and embroidery, appliqué and hand-stitching. Fashion should be fun, it should bring you joy. And at the moment, it is more crucial than ever to grab our pleasure where we can.’ As a rule of thumb, if in doubt, just try it out. And if you’re still wavering, I can send round a highly recommended eight-year- old stylist who will work for Haribos.