TREND ALERT: Plastic Fantastic
Spring 2018
This season, high fashion has been booming with a variety of new, innovative and political ideas: Miu Miu reintroduced colourful socks with heels and sandals, Dior delved into the importance of Feminism, and Fenty x Puma brought to the table wetsuits and beachwear, as well as motorbike chic.
Now, Barbie is back, and she’s cooler than ever. This trend has walked Chanel’s S/S 18 show, and what a show it was. Reinventing their traditional tweed with a fresh twist, Karl Lagerfeld did not play safe. He has created a new, contemporary angle to formalwear which is unique yet still in competence with Chanel’s trademark. The material returned to the industry fairly recently. In 2016, It was seen on the likes of Kim Kardashian when Kanye West introduced it in Yeezy Season 4. In my opinion, plastic can look tacky like the Perspex Yeezy boots, but, if Lagerfeld can introduce it into the world of Chanel, he must be doing something right, right? I propose that, could this be the ‘new fur’? Is this the ‘future’ of fashion where designers are revolutionising raw materials? Since Gucci has announced it will be taking a no-fur approach 2018 onwards, will other designers jump on the bandwagon?
Since Fashion Week, Perspex and Vinyl have dominated the high street and hands down, I am all for it. Sexy, edgy and a renewed blast from the past, this trend is bound to capture all eyes. Plastic jackets, trousers, skirts, boots, plastic everything! The 60s and 90s unite.
The dynamism between the colour red and PVC is full of sex appeal and extremely fierce. As a trend of its own this season, red is a colour deeply associated with love and passion but also danger and fire. This versatility enhances the powerful shade.
In light of this massive return, here are some of my favourite pieces on the high street.
Left to right across :