Fashion Talk By Becky Lyon

 

 Trinny and Susannah, the terrible twosome. You either love them or hate them, but either way they have definitely altered the common stigma that fashion is frivolous and superficial and taken the view of clothing to another level. Body grabbing and blunt chat aside they have re-introduced the idea of fashion as message to the common couch-curbing British woman.

 

 

{mosimage}

 It started off with ‘What not to Wear’ the most mainstream television fashion programme we have seen in a long time where a fashion disaster or two received two grand and a new dressing rule-book to rid themselves of their long-standing fashion crimes, in which by the end of the programme they would emerge a brand spanking-new glamour goddess. Now the show is presented by Lisa Butcher and Mica Paris and specialises in correcting a new life-crisis each week whether it is divorce or illness with the help of a few well-chosen accessories; whilst T&S are conducting serious relationship-repair with image through ‘Trinny and Susannah Undressed’.

 

 

 The question is- is fashion really a remedy? Can it be a useful aid in the solution to life’s problems? Well, as unlikely as it sounds you have probably had a spoonful of fashion medicine or two at some point or other. Think about the times you have had a stressful week, or a mucky break-up and it’s something that only a Saturday shopping-spree will cure. Or how a spectacularly slimming new coat magically sheds pounds off of those nemesis ‘wobbly bits’ and makes you feel like a million dollars.

 

 The psychological power of fashion and clothing on your mood is quite remarkable and as important as it is to ‘feel good on the inside’ first, sometimes feeling confident about your body and the way you portray yourself to others can be the first step on the road to recovery. It may be a little far-fetched to think that a mad-dash at Harvey Nicks is going to make your divorce a walk in the park but it might just be that little pick me up that makes things a little brighter.

 

             

Before                                            After

 

 An important message in T&S’s sartorial quest is to emphasise that your clothes speak volumes about you and you are in control of this. It is indubitable that you cannot walk out of the house (or bed for that matter) with out saying something about your social status/ beliefs/ values/ cultural pursuits/creativity/ tastes e.t.c. e.t.c so why not exploit this to your advantage? Your clothes can allow you to adopt the identity of anyone from a silver screen goddess to sex kitten; sailor girl to err, happy and confident divorcee. Your clothes are your billboard and you can advertise what you want.

 

{mosimage}

 

 Although the concept of re-vamping your life with styling might have more of a placebo effect than anything else, the beloved shows are an on-screen testament that through the power of a few chosen body coverings, you can transform to some degree. Isn’t fashion magic.

 

 

 

By Becky Lyon

becky.lyon@hotmail.co.uk