Why Fashion is falling in Love With Getting Dressed Again

Why Fashion Is Falling in Love With Getting Dressed Again

For a while, fashion seemed to become very quiet.

Minimalism, neutral palettes and understated dressing dominated. Everything was beautifully considered, of course, but somewhere along the way I think we lost a little of the joy of actually getting dressed.

And now, thankfully, that joy is coming back.

We are seeing embellishment, lace, brocade, bows, dramatic silhouettes, beautiful colour and fabulous accessories creeping back into our wardrobes. Clothes are becoming interesting again. There is a sense that we don’t simply want to look well dressed — we want to express something about ourselves.

Having spent more than 30 years in fashion buying and merchandising, I’ve watched trends come, go and inevitably return in a slightly different guise. One thing I’ve learned is that fashion is rarely just about clothes. It reflects how we’re feeling.

After years of practicality and pared-back dressing, perhaps we’re simply ready for a little fantasy.

The return of personality

What I particularly love about this shift is that it doesn’t mean dressing head-to-toe in one particular trend.

In fact, quite the opposite.

It’s about individuality.

A beautifully embellished jacket worn with jeans. A romantic blouse with something masculine. Vintage jewellery mixed with contemporary fashion. A dramatic dress worn because you love it rather than because you have somewhere suitably dramatic to go.

As a stylist, those contrasts are often what make an outfit interesting.

The best looks aren’t necessarily the ones where everything matches perfectly. They’re the ones that make you want to look twice.

We’ve seen this before

One of the privileges of having worked in fashion for as long as I have is being able to recognise when an idea is returning.

Designers constantly revisit the past, but each generation interprets it differently. What once felt old-fashioned suddenly feels exciting again.

Romantic dressing, heritage fabrics, feminine details and decorative accessories are all being rediscovered — but they’re being worn with a completely different attitude.

And that’s the important part.

Fashion may repeat itself. Style doesn’t have to.

Buying clothes emotionally

During my years as a buyer, there was always an element of instinct involved.

You can analyse sales figures, margins and previous seasons — and believe me, we did — but occasionally you see something and simply know that customers are going to want it.

Why?

Because fashion is emotional.

We don’t always buy the sensible black dress. Sometimes we buy the extraordinary jacket, the ridiculous shoes or the beautiful bag that makes absolutely no practical sense whatsoever.

Those are often the pieces we remember.

So perhaps it’s time to dress up again

I’m delighted to see fashion becoming playful.

Wear the fabulous dress for lunch.

Put the brooch on the jacket.

Mix vintage with new.

Wear sequins before six o’clock.

And if something makes you feel wonderful when you put it on, don’t save it for best.

Because after all these years working with clothes, I still believe one very simple thing:

Fashion should be fun.