This Cannot Be the New Shape * Kiss Me Stace * fashion, bags, shoes, & design

This Cannot Be the New Shape

February 5, 2006 by Designer Ella

We’ve seen “bloat” dresses before, in fact, all year on the runways, but Kenneth Cole created something a little bit different; it’s a new shape for the woman’s body.

First, the breasts are flattened (then poof after the nipples). Then we have a widening hips, thighs, and stomach, then the legs come in to a point, thanks to the “model walk.”

(And pictured here is a dress, perfectly lovely with a contrasted, ruched-belted, sheened-material waist, ruined by pockets. And in all these shows, the models keep their hands in those pockets. I frustratedly cry out at this Fashion Week trend: why?!)

Why do such things become catwalk trends, how can they cross over to the real world? I now have a cry out to the fashion community.

Many of we see the runway fashions as something not really for wearing, but it then concerns me when bloggers take various, hideous catwalk shots and use them to predict trends for the masses. This can come true, such as in the case of booming, size-adding babydoll dresses, but mostly the designer shows are fantasy. It also has good sense of truth in it for those who want to model themselves after designer trends for less money. Certainly, if a fashionista is feeling a particular piece, she should scan the show shots for hope. The trends will come into play by the intended season, and if hot enough, by the end of the current. What the bloggers should do is post styles that we feel and which we want to become trends. Maybe it’s time for fashion bloggers to be an authority and a “first word.” Can we make things happen?

Look at the times, the blog, itself. Look at all the current articles on the State of the Fashion Union on Almost Girl and Fashion Tribes. It seems that we at least value ourselves, through these topics, so let’s put faith in our medium, but even more so, our own talent and ability to understand style and therefore reach and speak to an audience.

And I personally ask us all to value the natural female form and not give in to these so-called “forgiving” shapes. I’m talking about waists and hips here. But also what hides a big tummy makes every (thin) girl look like she’s hiding a big tummy, and babydoll tops do make us all look pregnant. And hey—damn, I admit, in my stressful times (read: chocolate consumption during full-time schedule class finals, last term), I fell back on that loose material, only because the fitted tops show and prove, instead of hint. What’s so bad about that? Well, it’s fashion laziness or fashion desperation (”not a thing to wear” or not the money to replace a wardrobe). We’re all human, but if we set a good example, at least in type, could we possibly even change those dressmakers’ ways? Could we inspire structure to flatter different body types? Maybe we don’t need to stop at setting trends for Internet readers, maybe we can someday (soon) start bigger changes. Perhaps, if we hold designers to our ideals, more beautiful clothes will be made.

Perhaps, you are doing something important, and together—we must be together—not one of us is small.

(And we won’t all have to look large.)

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