Fickle Fashion

I’m always amazed by my constant fickleness when it comes to fashion. I’d like to think of myself as a gal who has a strong personal sense of style, only subtly tweaking it along the way to reflect the current trends, and who isn’t swayed by fashion fads. Yes, I laugh at those who are dragged along in the fashion fury, desperately competing to keep up with the ‘in’ trends. Truthfully however, I’m the one all blustery and red faced in the crowd, frantically tottering along in six-inch gladiator heels, trying my best to furiously keep up with fashion. 

I realised the extent of my fashion flakiness when shoulder-pads slyly sneaked their way into many designers’ collections for spring/summer 09. Personally, at the time I felt that huge shoulders should be the one trend not allowed to time travel from the eighties. Previous sightings of the angular monstrosities had been limited to dodgy movies from that era aired on television on Bank Holidays. Manly, ugly and totally unflattering, why would one wish to look like a rugby player? This was one trend I definitely would not be seen in.

Of course a few days later I was shamelessly rocking the square shoulders for my best-friends birthday party.

‘I thought you wouldn’t be seen dead in that type of jacket’ my boyfriend cynically stated. The stupid boy blatantly didn’t understand the illogic of fashion. I sighed as I explained to him that fashion has the power to swiftly pluck any old-fashioned style out of obscurity, elevate it to a covetable status, then just as fast kick it back to the kerb in a deplorable disgust.

‘That is why sometimes I say I dislike certain items, but then you’ll see me wearing them a few times before I reject them again. You’ve got to try keep and up Darling!’ I told him. He asked me why I just couldn’t wear a style that I liked, despite it being ‘in’ or not. I told him to be quiet.

His words echoed in my head that night as I tried to sleep. Why couldn’t I just wear an outfit because I liked it, not because fashion dictates to me? I had nightmares about models stomping down the catwalk with their distorted shoulders; exaggerated curved shoulders at Proenza Schouler and Stella McCartney’s small but sharp, shoulder-padded sweaters. Shoulders, shoulders SHOULDERS…. Powerful, sleek, edgy and sexy, I liked them damn it! I’ve always liked them, haven’t I? Hmmm maybe not, but a girl’s allowed to change her mind isn’t she? It just so happens that my change of mind is magically synchronised with the fluctuation of current fashion styles. It’s all purely coincidental of course….  

Show your fashion pretention and get a shoulder extension with these buys from the high-street:

Premium Shoulder Pad Blazer, £65, Topshop

Floral V Back Dress, £45, ASOS, (Image from PR Shots)

Sophie Gardener