Zara joins the unisex hype

Zara has just announced their 'genderless' collection. This includes clothing that is classed as basic that can be worn by both sexes. As genderless fashion is increasing, I believe that many shops will go in this direction and start releasing genderless lines or even make the whole of retail completely genderless. 

But what other issues could arise because of this whole genderless movement? Will men and women finally be seen as equal? Or will that never change? Will it still be ok for women to pose naked but inappropriate for men?

What does the future hold?

Photo Credit - Google Images

The new face of Louis Vuitton

Last year, the biggest trend that I was aware of in magazines and ad campaigns was GENDER. My first blog post focused on genderless fashion, I found this very interesting because Fashion doesn't have to be for either men or women, even though it is classed in these categories. I like menswear as well as womenswear, and you cannot always tell what garments fit into what category, so why can't a man wear women's clothes? With many companies making their ads genderless to suit both men and women, there was some controversy because many believe that men wearing dresses or skirts shouldn't be encouraged. But, I think this is positive for the fashion world. Fashion is diverse and focuses on expressing yourself, so why can't this been shown in the way that clothing and brands are promoted? I was so excited to hear about the collaboration with Jaden Smith and Louis Vuitton!

Photo Credit - The Guardian

It has just been announced that Jaden Smith will be the new face of Louis Vuitton, he features in the new S/S16 Womenswear campaign (shown above). Jaden Smith is an artistic, creative teenager and he is known for his unique taste in clothing so from my point of view, he is a perfect choice for the Louis Vuitton campaign. Yes, he is male, but he is the perfect person to experiment with this new idea. Despite being the new face for the brand, I love how Louis Vuitton hasn't made Jaden the focus of the photograph. The composition of the image is interesting and all the clothing looks great with the brick wall background. I will be looking out for more shots of Jaden for Louis Vuitton.

Is Fashion an anti-utopian world?

As part of this weeks reading, we were told to read “FASHION A Philosophy” By Lars Svendsen.

Whilst reading the book, the idea that fascinated me the most was a quote from Boris Groys. At first, I thought his concept was ridiculous but the more I thought about it, the more I started to agree with him.

Boris Groys describes fashion as anti-utopian – a world characterized by misery and oppression, but is it?

As a fashion lover, you would assume that I would disagree with this statement. However, I tend to agree with Boris Groys as recently (especially in Central London), certain nightclubs have told their bouncers to follow a set of requirements when it comes to club entry - allowing only one type of female to enter. As a woman, to hear this is disgraceful and a complete anti-utopia. Why should we follow a certain vision? Is this to attract males? Why do males not have certain requirements? What happened to individuality and the freedom to be who you want? Adhering to their “ideal image” is oppressing for those who have their own style and do not follow the crowd. Clubs are promoting the message that if you don’t fit their criteria of appearance then you cannot go out and enjoy yourself. I completely disagree with this concept because clothes are supposed to make you feel good and if you are not comfortable in what you are wearing, how can you have a good time? This is outrageous and as a fashion capital, there should be no rules on how to dress. Obviously clubs can give a dress code such as smart/casual or dressy but to pinpoint every part of the outfit should not be allowed. Women should not be forced into wearing 6 inch heels, short dresses or revealing tops, we do not have a uniform. 

So ladies, do not fall into the trap of feeling like you have to change your style to have a good time or to please others. Be yourself!

Introduction (FCP) - & Other Stories

Hey – I’m Chloe and will be using my blog “Much Love.. Chlo” to document current work that I have been completing at Nottingham Trent University.

As well as sharing my ideas, I will be posting my thoughts on various elements within the fashion industry, from articles to catwalk shows etc. FCP (Fashion Communication and Promotion) is the course I chose to study at University. This course was enticing because it covers a broad range of subjects within fashion, both creative and business orientated. Fashion is an evolving sector and as a passion I cannot wait to get straight into the course. The pre-arrival task for the course got me to research various digital, retail and printed examples of companies that promote their brand well. I had to focus on aspects that engaged me personally and why I liked their concepts.

Whilst researching, I found “& Other Stories” and their current story that really inspired me and made me think about the future of fashion. “Transgender Stories” is a concept whereby & Other Stories have promoted the unique idea that explains how current fashion has gradually developed into fashion that has been combined for both sexes. There is no longer a distinct difference between men and women’s fashion. Their story includes a video that explores 5 transgender creatives that tell the story of challenging the traditional notion of identity within fashion. The main message is to enhance identity and not feel insecure about breaking barriers between male and female trends. As the people featured in the campaign are revealing their personal journeys, it makes the concept more sensitive for viewers.

                                   

If this post interests you, revisit my blog for more information about what my course entails and what tasks we get set!

Photo Credit - & Other Stories

http://www.stories.com/gb/