FASHION
Kirstin lnnes hops in her time machine and goes back to school for the spring and summer trends
or years now, predicting the upcoming season’s trends has been a guessing which decade of the 20th century we’ll be nicking our looks from. Mini dresses and go-go boots? Flares? Flares again? Flares on men‘.’ All this rifling through the dressing up box of the past might seem arbitrary, but with hindsight.
there’s some logic to it. Just after
the millennium, facing the uncertainties of a new century and various international crises — 9/l 1, Iraq — fashion
retreated to the surety of the l95()s, with demure prom
dresses and old school glamour. As we got into the swagger of the decade, with
our
matter of
unregulated market, our iPhones
a and disposable incomes, it’s no coincidence that the razzle dazzle of the worst of l98()s fashion —
i pixie
boots and aggressive
mullets, shoulder pads and blazers
— began to resurface, mirroring the greed-is-good ethos that has, eventually, landed us all in this mess again.
So, what now‘.’ That noise you hear, that sort of whomp whom/2, is the fashion TARDlS battling the
: mists of time to take us back to
(dum dum DUM) . . . the 1990s. Yeah, I know. It’s not filling you with joy for the fashion year ahead, is it? Us either, to be honest but it’s not as ropey as you
may think. We’re not talking about ' the end of the decade, with its
khakis, combat pants and bloated,
9.9
fashi
corporate music. As ever with this retro-future stuff, it’s about recreating an idea of a time, through small trends. Much of the early to mid-l990s was spent trying to escape from a recession.
The spring/summer 2009 catwalks
(seen in autumn 2008) took two distinct approaches to the impending economic crisis. The first was pared-down, sober and neutral. as exemplified at Dries Van Noten at Paris Fashion Week: simple layers, tucked-in t-shirts with long cardigans, low V-necks, monochrome, sporting a lone, striking accessory. No fuss. It’s essentially what the people too rich or too old for grunge were wearing at the time.
The second happened all over London Fashion
if“.
Glasgow Comedy Lily Allen Be Near Me Festival The pint-sized This hotly anticipated In its seventh year, the outspoken Londoner play from the National 2009 festival is part of with a penchant for Theatre of Scotland is the Homecoming MySpace rants an adaptation of celebrations. The line- graces Glasgow with Andrew O’Hagan's up includes Jimmy her presence. 02 Booker-nominated Carr. Russell Kane Academy, Glasgow, novel. Cit'zens'
and Richard Herring. 14 Mar Theatre 25 March—4 Van'ous venues, Apr; Traverse Theatre Glasgow, 12—29 Mar. 15- 18 April.
20 THE LIST 8—22 Jan 2009
Week: the clothes stayed pared down, but the colours got bright. To be ahead of the trends this year think of how exciting it felt when grunge gave way to the joyousness of Britpop — you’re 15 again, and hey, Blur just got back together! — and dress accordingly. The lt girls of the season, however irritating you might find them, are Londoners: Pixie Geldof for her footwear and attitude, Agyness Deyn for her striking reds and blacks, and her boldness.
As far as trends go: sorry the pashmina and ballet pump crowd, but delicate footwear is our. Solid black, chunky, stomping. The sort of shoe that could weather a night sitting on park benches drinking cider, a snogging session behind a tree and still give Mandy Mitchell a dirty look because she totally
said something about your mum. Chunky oxford brogues, massive platform heels and, of course, Doc Martens
— which all popped
up at the end of last season.
Look out for
another run on Converse baseball boots
too when/if the weather clears up.
Enjoy.
The Dr Who Edinburgh Edinburgh Exhibition International International
Its first time in Harp Festival Science Festival Scotland. this A mixture of jam Prepare to be amazed celebration of Dr Who sessions. courses and and educated with features costumes workshops for all this highly
and props from the levels, this festival has recommended funfair. last series. including been running for Various venues,
the Tardis. KeMngrove nearly 30 years. Edinburgh, 6—18 Apr. Art Gallery, Glasgow, Merchiston Castle
from 28 Mar. School, 3—8 Apr.