We all remember when scrunchies for your hair were the big thing. They came right around the time of leggings with stirrup. ‘What’s Hot and What’s Not’ is updated in most glossy fashion magazines each month. Colours, patterns, shoes and denim change as much as the weather does.
Fashion has been rapidly evolving over the years. As well as the obvious style changes in clothing, it is becoming increasingly more fashionable to own certain things, dine at certain places, embody a certain lifestyle and have a certain uniqueness of style about a house. Even Oprah Winfrey, one of the most powerful women in America, has tapped into this, replacing the fashion designers she used to have on the show with Nate Berkus, interior home designer to the stars.
Many of his makeover ideas come from the homes of the rich and famous, such as fashion designer Adrienne Vittadini, but Nate’s main appeal is that he creates these things on a budget. This means that everyday people can live a fashionable lifestyle without the expense, which is all part of the appeal. In a recent BBC interview, consultant psychiatrist Dr. Raj Persaud said “perhaps this generation have become bored with simple adulation of the famous, and now are interested and observe the famous closely because primarily they now want to emulate them.”
Landscaper Toal Thornton agrees with this, adding that “everyday people want to be fashionable like the rich and famous in every aspect of their life”, he says. “They want to act rich, live rich and ultimately be rich.” Thornton admits there are many people who ask for the most popular water features, most popular plants and most popular landscaping designs to make their gardens look appealing and beautiful to people who drive by. They seem to want to be noticed for their ‘fashion sense’ even when it comes to their gardens.
Having those white iPod headphones emerging from your bag is a known icon and something many people see every day on public transport. We have probably all been asked, as I know I have, what is the difference between an iPod and a generic MP3 player? The answer is nothing, aside from its status and brand name. It also parades the fact that the buyer knows this and could afford one to begin with. Like many accessories these days, the iPod has become a fashion symbol and a must-have for anyone wanting to be part of the ‘in crowd’.
British fashion designer Nicole Farhi understands this concept and after designing for 30 years, now owns eight stores scattered throughout the heart of London, and even her own restaurant Nicole’s. Her homewares include textiles, ceramics, glass, cushions, candles and other decorative pieces for the house. Each piece in the collection embodies her “personal aesthetic toward fashion and interiors,” she says on her website.
As we can see, fashion has been increasing over the years from being solely associated with clothes to now being associated with a lifestyle. So what comes next? The iPod I can deal with, but if anyone I know starts naming their children things like Shiloh, Suri, Moses or Apple, I will happily claim myself to be ‘unfashionable’.