That our world is as connected as it is can be a blessing when writing about a topic as challenging as the one that this blog is based on. With weeks to go before the Spring Summer 2013 collections are released and with creative restraint on catwalks recently I was concerned there would be less to speak of…and then arrived the Olympics closing ceremony.
A representation of some of London’s most notable fashion talent was up for display on what has to be the largest catwalk in fashion history (note that I didn’t say the longest). Glittering and rich in detail these made-to-order creations highlight the talent that London has every right to be proud of. It also highlighted the various aspects of fashion we are at, such as the gold and white blocked Jonathan Saunders gown, the sparkly blocking from Christopher Kane or the diaphanous train trailing the copious beaded short shift from Alexander McQueen; 90s to the max!
What also came up was a huge firestorm of criticism on Twitter as many questioned the healthiness of the image or the appropriateness of some of the controversial supermodels (such as Kate Moss or Naomi Campbell) in the face of current discussions and petitions to magazines demanding healthier and more realistic representation of women in the public eye.
This event brought forth a fascinating array of where our attention lies and what we value. That we include fashion as runway in the Olympics demonstrates the value fashion holds within our culture. That the response was immediate and recognized demonstrates the power of social media and the immediacy of our technology. The model of all that was presented and how the world responded (and is probably still discussing) is a fascinating sociological slice of fashion, the platform, the way it relates to society and its social impact at the moment.
That the designs, beautiful as they were (and believe me I do find them stunning and that the public missed on the detail) held no surprises also shows where we are in the current state of fashion. I can only imagine that, should fashion make its appearance in such a manner in the next decade that we may find these charming but dated in relation to what is coming forth. Perhaps we will see somthig more intriguing in the next few weeks.
By the way, I see people are reading. Thank you very much. Do you have anything (related to fahsion and sociology, of course) that you'd like to ask or want this blog to address? Let me know and I'll respond.