14 DAY TRIAL // As usual, each new season brings one or more major trends, and then a counter-trend (or even more) that tries to overturn these by a combination of the most surprising elements. Spring 2009 will be all about femininity and grace, with ‘80s accents and bold contrasts. Spring 2009 will also be about the mix and match of the most unexpected and strange items, in what is being now deemed the bad taste fashion trend.
This new trend is definitely not something new, although it has become more obvious in recent weeks. It implies designers looking for originality in the strangest places, and its result is simple, plain bad taste – only updated to look good on certain people, fashion insiders say.
Come to think of it, we’ve already seen examples of this bad taste trend in singers like Lady GaGa (whose outfits are hailed as revolutionary and creative when she’s wearing them, but which would not fare well on any other woman) and M.I.A, who walked the red carpet at this year’s Grammys in a huge babydoll frock with snickers.
Understandably, it takes a certain type of woman to pull off this trend, stylists share, but that does not mean it cannot be done, or that it will look bad. Quite on the contrary, while it does promote unattractiveness and tackiness, it can look simply stunning when the attitude is the right one, as is the case with the rising fashionista and future fashion designer Lady GaGa.
Pairing neon colors with high-waist flowered pants and an ‘80s-inspired jacket with huge shoulders takes a lot of courage – and a great, almost flawless body as well. Designers from Christopher Kane to Danielle Scutt and Just Cavalli have all included the bad taste look in their collections.
Aside from the seemingly mismatched (and visually offending) items of clothing, this trend also includes funky accessories such as headbands or belts, jumpsuits in the most audacious hues, shoes in neon colors, denim jackets, printed leggings and, last but not least, animal prints. A leopard-print Agent Provocateur bodysuit is causing a frenzy right now in the celebrity world, with stars like Christina Aguilera and Katy Perry donning it while clubbing in LA.
Of course, just because this is a trend that is making the rounds with the latest collections of great designers does not mean that all women should jump on it. As with everything new, due caution must be exercised – but not too much, because, otherwise, we risk missing out on a trend that is incredibly fun and leaves plenty of room for creativity and originality, stylists also tell.
