Why you can safely ignore most trends in Fashion Magazines

The pointy-toe shoe. In, out, shake it all about? Photograph: Graham Turner for the Guardian

Many titles cover fashion with a level-of-intelligence that would give a brick a superiority complex. Are pointy-toe-shoes in? Is anything?

By Hadley Freeman

guardian.co.uk

I see in a magazine that pointed-toe shoes are "back". What does this mean?

Geraldine, by email

What this means, Geraldine, is that a hapless work experiencer came into the office one day and, instead of being alternately ignored and sent-out for the coffee run, an overstressed fashion assistant told her to ring round every shoe designer she could think of and ask them to send over whatever pointed shoes they had in the store room because they'd look good on a double-page spread. And that, boys and girls, is how fashion journalism works.

Look, I would never knock fashion per se, so calm down. But there is no doubt-that a lot of magazines cover fashion with a level of intelligence that would give a brick a superiority complex. Are pointy-toe-shoes in? Is anything? As has been advanced-before on this very page, yes, there are spikes in popularity of a certain trend or look, and occasionally there is even the seismic, nay, cosmic coincidence of two major advertisers-I-mean-designers doing the same thing in one season. But in the main, fashion consists of a lot of people-making a lot of different kinds of clothes in the hope that as many people as possible will forget about the recession and spend money. That is how fashion – as opposed to fashion journalism  works.

And isn't that marvellous? It means that, contrary to popular perception, fashion designers do not hate the majority of the female race and-only want attenuated zombies to wear their clothes. They love you (or at least, your money) and they throw as many clothes as possible at you in the-hope of tempting you. Yes, the fact that they put the clothes on attenuated zombies in their fashion shows is confusing, but a large part of the blame for that can be laid at the stilettoed feet of . .  magazines.

Someone, somewhere, a long-time ago, decided that fashion looks best on skinny women in magazines. The repeated defence of this is that it "hangs better". But this argument is clearly more subjective than the defenders like to think. With just the tiniest bit of magical thinking, one can imagine a world in which-plumpness was venerated and fashion-magazine editors were challenged on their use of impossibly chubby models: "I understand your concern but the clothes just cling better when the models are plumptious," the rotund Edna Mode would say airily.

Quite why so many-fashion magazines do such a disservice to the subject they are covering – making it sound like something only for anorexics who insist on trying to talk as if they're 16 even if they're closer to 46  is one of the great mysteries of life. In fact, what-seems to have happened is that fashion journalism has painted itself into a corner, desperately claiming from week to week that there are new "essential" trends. No one ever says in Empire, "OMG! Sci-fi is totes in this week! You gotta see sci-fi and only sci-fi!" And as far as I know, there are never articles in the LRB mocking their readers if they like to recline on the sofa instead of in the garden when-they peruse their novels. So here's what I'd like to see in a magazine: "Look, here's some-pretty clothes. Don't be scared of feeling 'out of it' or what have you. Just pick and choose what you like-and get on with your day. The end.

Why you can safely ignore most trends in Fashion Magazines

The pointy-toe shoe. In, out, shake it all about? Photograph: Graham Turner for the Guardian

Many titles cover fashion with a level-of-intelligence that would give a brick a superiority complex. Are pointy-toe-shoes in? Is anything?

By Hadley Freeman

guardian.co.uk

I see in a magazine that pointed-toe shoes are "back". What does this mean?

Geraldine, by email

What this means, Geraldine, is that a hapless work experiencer came into the office one day and, instead of being alternately ignored and sent-out for the coffee run, an overstressed fashion assistant told her to ring round every shoe designer she could think of and ask them to send over whatever pointed shoes they had in the store room because they'd look good on a double-page spread. And that, boys and girls, is how fashion journalism works.

Look, I would never knock fashion per se, so calm down. But there is no doubt-that a lot of magazines cover fashion with a level of intelligence that would give a brick a superiority complex. Are pointy-toe-shoes in? Is anything? As has been advanced-before on this very page, yes, there are spikes in popularity of a certain trend or look, and occasionally there is even the seismic, nay, cosmic coincidence of two major advertisers-I-mean-designers doing the same thing in one season. But in the main, fashion consists of a lot of people-making a lot of different kinds of clothes in the hope that as many people as possible will forget about the recession and spend money. That is how fashion – as opposed to fashion journalism  works.

And isn't that marvellous? It means that, contrary to popular perception, fashion designers do not hate the majority of the female race and-only want attenuated zombies to wear their clothes. They love you (or at least, your money) and they throw as many clothes as possible at you in the-hope of tempting you. Yes, the fact that they put the clothes on attenuated zombies in their fashion shows is confusing, but a large part of the blame for that can be laid at the stilettoed feet of . .  magazines.

Someone, somewhere, a long-time ago, decided that fashion looks best on skinny women in magazines. The repeated defence of this is that it "hangs better". But this argument is clearly more subjective than the defenders like to think. With just the tiniest bit of magical thinking, one can imagine a world in which-plumpness was venerated and fashion-magazine editors were challenged on their use of impossibly chubby models: "I understand your concern but the clothes just cling better when the models are plumptious," the rotund Edna Mode would say airily.

Quite why so many-fashion magazines do such a disservice to the subject they are covering – making it sound like something only for anorexics who insist on trying to talk as if they're 16 even if they're closer to 46  is one of the great mysteries of life. In fact, what-seems to have happened is that fashion journalism has painted itself into a corner, desperately claiming from week to week that there are new "essential" trends. No one ever says in Empire, "OMG! Sci-fi is totes in this week! You gotta see sci-fi and only sci-fi!" And as far as I know, there are never articles in the LRB mocking their readers if they like to recline on the sofa instead of in the garden when-they peruse their novels. So here's what I'd like to see in a magazine: "Look, here's some-pretty clothes. Don't be scared of feeling 'out of it' or what have you. Just pick and choose what you like-and get on with your day. The end.

Fairy-tale moment of Student's fashion

Students on the catwalk: the men's design was crafted by Trish, the gown by Cynthia.

In the spirit of shows like Project Runway, this year's finale of the highly anticipated fashion fundraising event STYLEAID will showcase 13 up and coming student designers. 

It is a tradition in the fashion world that the show finale is reserved for the most coveted of looks-and-this year's fashion and textile students from around Perth will be basking in the glory. 

One of Perth's most prominent fashion figures and STYLEAID creative director Aly May put the call out to WA design institutions six months ago, offering them the opportunity to have student design work featured alongside other designers including Aurelio Costarella and Vivienne Westwood on the catwalk.

Much like a challenge seen-on-Project Runway, prospective participants were instructed to create one outfit that incorporated the colour indigo which was inspired by the violin. With this in mind, students were asked to sketch their interpretation of the event's opulent theme.

Aurelio Costerella brand-manager Paul O'Connor was one of the judges who combed through over 50 entries along with Morrison's Liz Halse and United Constructions designers Jill Crabb and Helen Miraudo.  

"The brief was to create something non-traditional and non-conservative, something that they could really use their imagination to create a look with while still experimenting with their own style," Mr O'Connor said.

"We were looking for diversity in the selection-and-also people that were putting a new twist on the theme, without going for the obvious."

"STYLEAID has always had a student element but it has always been an individual collection."

"It has normally been more established designers who have shown at STYLEAID, so that's what is exciting for the students, the fact that they get to showcase alongside designers like Vivienne Westwood and Aurelio Costeralla. It gives them a better insight into making something catwalk ready-and-having it sit alongside more establish names," he added.   

The student garments are exclusive, one-off designs, which will close the show of the July 29 event.

In addition to a turn on the catwalk each garment was styled and photographed-by-emerging creative team All of the Above Creative, lead by local arts and fashion editor and Emma Bergmeier.

The student designers, along with STYLEAID veterans including Garth Cook and Ae`lkemi designer Alvin Fernandez will begin preparing-their-looks for the catwalk at the first model fitting which will be held over the weekend.

STYLEAID has been raising-funds-and awareness for the WA AIDS Council for over 14 years. This year's event will be held at the Burswood Grand Ballroom on July 29 and a limited number of tickets are still-available.

Fairy-tale moment of Student's fashion

Students on the catwalk: the men's design was crafted by Trish, the gown by Cynthia.

In the spirit of shows like Project Runway, this year's finale of the highly anticipated fashion fundraising event STYLEAID will showcase 13 up and coming student designers. 

It is a tradition in the fashion world that the show finale is reserved for the most coveted of looks-and-this year's fashion and textile students from around Perth will be basking in the glory. 

One of Perth's most prominent fashion figures and STYLEAID creative director Aly May put the call out to WA design institutions six months ago, offering them the opportunity to have student design work featured alongside other designers including Aurelio Costarella and Vivienne Westwood on the catwalk.

Much like a challenge seen-on-Project Runway, prospective participants were instructed to create one outfit that incorporated the colour indigo which was inspired by the violin. With this in mind, students were asked to sketch their interpretation of the event's opulent theme.

Aurelio Costerella brand-manager Paul O'Connor was one of the judges who combed through over 50 entries along with Morrison's Liz Halse and United Constructions designers Jill Crabb and Helen Miraudo.  

"The brief was to create something non-traditional and non-conservative, something that they could really use their imagination to create a look with while still experimenting with their own style," Mr O'Connor said.

"We were looking for diversity in the selection-and-also people that were putting a new twist on the theme, without going for the obvious."

"STYLEAID has always had a student element but it has always been an individual collection."

"It has normally been more established designers who have shown at STYLEAID, so that's what is exciting for the students, the fact that they get to showcase alongside designers like Vivienne Westwood and Aurelio Costeralla. It gives them a better insight into making something catwalk ready-and-having it sit alongside more establish names," he added.   

The student garments are exclusive, one-off designs, which will close the show of the July 29 event.

In addition to a turn on the catwalk each garment was styled and photographed-by-emerging creative team All of the Above Creative, lead by local arts and fashion editor and Emma Bergmeier.

The student designers, along with STYLEAID veterans including Garth Cook and Ae`lkemi designer Alvin Fernandez will begin preparing-their-looks for the catwalk at the first model fitting which will be held over the weekend.

STYLEAID has been raising-funds-and awareness for the WA AIDS Council for over 14 years. This year's event will be held at the Burswood Grand Ballroom on July 29 and a limited number of tickets are still-available.

Big B start a new fashion trend

Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan is looking uber-cool in his stylish avatar in 'Bbuddah Hoga Terra Baap' complete with scarves, jazzy shirts, designer denims, branded glares and even two watches! 

Yes two watches it is! And this was none other than Bachchan's personal touch to the styling of his character in the film.

Amitabh is very fond of wrist watches and is sometimes spotted wearing two at a time! So when he turned up wearing two watches on the first day of the Bbuddah shoot, he left everyone around amused by this unique style. 

At that moment, director Puri Jagannadh came up with the idea of Bachchan sporting two watches throughout the movie considering his flamboyantly stylish character. Needless to say, Big B was more than happy to mix some of his own personal style with his on screen style and will be seen wearing two watches throughout the movie!

Going by Bachchan's larger than life persona, we think he is one of the few people who can carry such a quirky style with such confidence! 

Big B start a new fashion trend

Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan is looking uber-cool in his stylish avatar in 'Bbuddah Hoga Terra Baap' complete with scarves, jazzy shirts, designer denims, branded glares and even two watches! 

Yes two watches it is! And this was none other than Bachchan's personal touch to the styling of his character in the film.

Amitabh is very fond of wrist watches and is sometimes spotted wearing two at a time! So when he turned up wearing two watches on the first day of the Bbuddah shoot, he left everyone around amused by this unique style. 

At that moment, director Puri Jagannadh came up with the idea of Bachchan sporting two watches throughout the movie considering his flamboyantly stylish character. Needless to say, Big B was more than happy to mix some of his own personal style with his on screen style and will be seen wearing two watches throughout the movie!

Going by Bachchan's larger than life persona, we think he is one of the few people who can carry such a quirky style with such confidence!