season of change (is this the end of skinny jeans?)
Change is inevitable, both in life and in fashion. Whether you are reading Vogue or the business section of The Washington Post, it’s evident we are about to embark on a new order of silhouettes. A few weeks back, national retail reporter Sarah Halzack wrote an article on Anthropologie’s recent decline in sales. She attributes this deficit to an ongoing poor selection of styles that have underwhelmed customers. In a nutshell, we are in arrears of a new cycle in fashion. The days of skinny jeans and flowy tops are coming to an end and we are destined for a new movement to take hold.
In a subsequent interview with Rachel Martin on NPR, Ms. Halzack mentions in order to get women shopping again, there must be something new. I recall the leap of faith I took in 2008 as the buyer at Hysteria with the beginning of skinny jeans (aka jeggings). I recall my young and stylish rep encouraging me to include this alarmingly body conscious denim in my selections promising me that all the girls in New York were coveting this fresh new style. It was here that I acknowledged the value of my younger counterparts in this sartorial field. Writing the order was a piece of cake compared to getting clients onboard with this new “body” when they were shopping for their traditional bootcut and straight leg styles. It seems as though just when nearly everyone has finally embraced this new body conscious staple, the economics of fashion is declaring, “enough is enough!”
So where do inspirations come from for the next movement in style? Evidence has shown that all trends have a certain pattern that transpires involving a social process of people and place. Make no mistake, these are not ordinary people or any old place. Trendsetters are individuals who crave change and are open to innovative styles. They are often affiliated with designers, artists, young people, wealthy people, gay men, and celebrities. The following seven cities are where trends typically begin: New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, London, Paris, Milan, and Tokyo. It’s easy to draw logical conclusions since these cities are home to many artist and designers. Trends spread when the trendsetters mingle with other people who observe, copy, and carry these ideas forward (…thus going viral has become a splendid analogy for such phenomena).
As a stylist, I study trends and look for new inspirations regularly. Trends have a tendency to last for longer periods of time (in contrast to fads, which are short-lived—usually just one or two seasons). I pay close attention to one particular area of the trend demographic: young people under the age of 30. I have the pleasure to introduce the lovely Lizzy Autumn Considine. I ran into Lizzy and her mom, Jenny, in front of Mint Condition one day last fall. Lizzy had been blowing me away with pictures that Jenny posts on Facebook. In addition, she started her own blog, Autumn’s Attire six months ago — no small endeavor for someone her age with a healthy dose of extracurricular activities. Immediately, I recognized not only her passion but her innate ability and asked her mom if I could invite her to work with me a few days a week after school or on weekends.
Amazing things happen when you collaborate on projects with people who share your interests. Bringing Lizzy into my world of styling and fashion will hopefully give her some resume padding for future internships in one of those aforementioned cities. Having her insights keeps me attuned to what’s happening beyond my own circles and areas of inspiration. Lizzy follows some of the same bloggers that I love but she also introduces me to bloggers (aka future stylists) I would otherwise not come across.
I took Lizzy around to some Stylebook businesses and had her select the pieces that were inspiring her for spring. I encourage you to take a look at Lizzy’s blog as well and how she incorporates color, texture, proportion, and layers. After all, she’s the future of style.
Bellacara
I asked Lizzy to choose a makeup trend for spring. Elizabeth from Bellacara shows us how to make pastel eyeliner look fresh against a soft palette of pastels:
Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner in Periwinkle
Stila Stay All Day Liquid Liner Pen in Periwinkle
Rouge Bunny Rouge Glassy Gloss in Rhubarb Custard
Blinc Eyebrow Mousse in Medium Blonde
Vincent Longo Demi-Matte Cangiante Eyeshadow in Wannabe
Smashbox L.A. Lights Cheek and Lip Tint in Laurel Canyon Coral
Rouge Bunny Rouge Witchery Mascara in Midnight
Top and pastel denim from Kiskadee; Suede Espadrilles from The Shoe Hive; Cork Backpack from TSALT
Look #1: Pastels from Kiskadee and The Shoe Hive
Lizzy is drawn to color for spring. This pastel combo came together easily and she thoughtfully decided to ground the look with neutral accessories.
Look #2: Romance from Coco Blanca
Lizzy has a natural bohemian side to her personality. The pastel eyeliner adds just the right amount of color for an otherwise neutral look. One of my mantras for style is to aim for being subtle over being obvious. Lizzy’s trick to those beachy waves? A top knot with light product provides an effortless transition that gives hair just enough body when taken down.
We both agreed the maxi skirt was an easy choice for relaxing weekends or when you’re heading to the beach. In early spring you can wear this skirt with ankle boots and a denim jacket; then once it gets warm, you can convert this to a beach cover up with your bathing suit and some strappy sandals.
Find out more about Lizzy in my interview and see her pay homage to her favorite blogger…can you guess who it may be?
2 Comments
I enjoyed your article about the sociology of trends, but I would have loved to hear your fashion-predictions for the near future.
Thanks for your spotlight on “Autumn’s Attire” blog! I have been following Lizzy and I am consistently impressed with her stylistic maturity and grace ….and her beautiful photography ! She is definitely someone special to watch!
Thank you Barbie for sharing your thoughts. Adding some of my own predictions would have been of interest to Stylebook readers and a missed opportunity indeed. I do feel the wider leg cropped pant is starting to take hold here in the Alexandria area while it’s been feeling a bit more mainstream in Paris and New York. Ultimately, I believe the changes in textiles will start to dictate the new silhouettes. There are great strides being made in this area where brands such as Kit and Ace are developing new textiles that will appeal to younger generations due to how it will be easier to care for and become more seamless to their lifestyles. I guess I was attempting to bring a concept to the Stylebook readers that the next generation holds so much of where fashion will go in the near future while still tying it all in to “local” subjects…and Lizzy was the ideal candidate to prove my point. Thank you again for taking time to read our post.
Alicia