Don’t you get sick of fashion mags churning out the same trends in new guises year in year out; I don’t need to pay $10 to hear that ‘The New Black is… Black’ or that my neons this season need to be faded, or metallic, or glow-in-the-dark. A repeat offender every time the colder months hit is LAYERING. I’m going to show you how to make it work for sunnier days (I know, I know, I’m as bad as them, bear with me) whilst incorporating every trend I possibly can so all this so-called disposable* fashion you’ve been conned into spending your Nando’s money on can be reused.
Hit op shops to find current trends the first time they came around, if you‘ve got a good memory (or a phone with a good memory) you can save images you want to recreate and adapt treasures you find to fit them. Juxtapose (is there a more over-used word than that? Other than ‘layering’… my bad) textures, as opposing and brash and you can get; tulle, beading, lycra, Perspex. Ignoring the ‘getting down and dirty for dollar’ association Perspex heels have – unless you want to embrace that, hey each to their own – they look sexy in a 1970s prediction of ‘what the aliens who invade Earth in 2000 would wear’ kinda way. It’s probably advisable to stick to a set color scheme else you’re gonna end up looking more Alex-the-homeless-man than Alexander Wang. If in doubt, synch it all in with a waist belt and throw on as much jewelry as you can walk in.
Once you’ve got it all piled on, step out proud and politically correct in your interracial outfit.
*I don’t know who disposes of their clothes but personally I like to hoard them in piles, have my friends pass out amongst them at after parties, and attempt to conquer my sartorial Everest daily, scaling them to gain my reward of bedtime.
HEADDRESS – DIY, 60S EMBELLISHED TUNIC – OP SHOP, NEON DRESS – CHRISTOPER KATE FOR TOPSHOP, UNDERSKIRT – BEYOND RETRO, TWEED JACKET – OP SHOP, EIFFEL TOWER BAG – TIMMY WOODS, PERSPEX HEELS – OP SHOP, ASSORTED JEWELLERY – LINKS OF LONDON, EBAY, TIFFANY & CO, THAILAND
PERSPEX HEELS – SEE ABOVE, BLACK WEDGE HEELS – TOPSHOP, HEADDRESS – COSTUME SALE, GREY TEE – AMERICAN APPAREL, DRESS (WORN AS SKIRT) – BEYOND RETRO, UNDERSKIRT – OP SHOP, CHER SIAMESE CLUTCH – ALEXANDER WANG
