Go on, feel free to re-wear that outfit you love
Afew years ago Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra started a social media campaign — #itscooltorepeat. The idea was that women should wear what they like, when they like, and most importantly, how often they like. In the world obsessed with social media, women often feel they cannot repeat clothes. Celebrities, in particular, face criticism if they step out in the same clothes again. It’s really a very immature take on fashion.
One woman who has had the confidence to make it cool to repeat is Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. A name that appears on the best dressed lists throughout the world; she has no problem repeating an outfit. Be it a red coat from LK Bennett or a Roland Mouret evening gown. She always injects some personality into what she wears with some add-ons, such as accessories that can come from Zara or from Cartier. By re-accessorising the same outfit, she gives it a new twist.
Recently, Priyanka Chopra’s stylist, Ami Patel who had championed the ‘it’s too cool to repeat’ campaign decided it was time to revive the hashtag after another client of hers, Alia Bhatt, received flak for wearing an outfit that another celebrity (from another country) had worn before. She had styled it differently but it was the same dress. And some local style icons from Mumbai decided to use these pictures with the caption #itscooltorepeat in support of Patel. The fact is it is cool to repeat, and not just because Sonam Kapoor, Bollywood actress, says it so. Re-wearing an outfit reflects style, confidence, and shows that you are smart shopper. It is also environmentally
By worrying about wearing the same outfit again you are actually feeding into fashion’s conspiracy.
friendly thing to do. It’s really consumerism at its worst to believe you need to wear a new outfit every time you step out. In fact, when you are buying something new look at the cost per wear to know if it is a true style buy. Divide the cost of the outfit by the number of times you will wear it—and that will give you a true idea of how savvy a purchase it is.
The idea of buying well-made clothes from good quality fabrics is that they should last. Yet I know many women who worry about having their picture taken in an outfit they recently wore. They feel being seen in the same outfit is a cardinal sin. But since you invest both time and money in outfits don’t they deserve several outings?
It’s about how you style an outfit. By worrying about wearing the same outfit again you are actually feeding into fashion’s conspiracy. There is a reason that Anna Wintour, fashion’s ultimate last word, said: trend is a dirty word. The editrix stated that fashion today is much more about individuality, reflecting a woman’s character than trends. And in my mind repeating clothes definitely shows character.
The irony is that often the pieces that receive the most fashion kudos are vintage pieces. If you go by the book, a true vintage piece of clothing should have been produced before 1920s. But today, a piece that is over 20 years is referred as vintage. These outfits prove there is nothing cooler than repeating. Which is why women who truly know their fashion, such as Sarah Jessica Parker, Alexa Chung and Kate Moss, are spotted in vintage. So there is no question that it is cool to repeat.