Ignore sartorial trends and create your own style, says Platinum's resident fashion expert. Rules are there to be broken!
WORDS: GAIL ROLFE. IMAGES: VARIOUS BRANDS.
The world of fashion has changed dramatically over the last few decades. And I think it’s safe to say that the overwhelming autonomy of global fashion trends is no longer as significant as it used to be. Which is probably a good thing for everyone. I have witnessed almost five decades of fashion trends be reinvented.
In my early days as a fashion editor, headlines screamed the “next big thing” and those of us who cared about being au courant, followed like lemmings. The first question anyone asked me was, “what should I be wearing this season?”. But, without doubt, there has been a seismic change since the emergence of the internet and social media.
The power to influence has shifted and the result is a world where there are myriad options. Style and fashion inspiration now emerge from so many platforms. Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, and blogs sit happily alongside the hugely influential glossy fashion mags. Instead of diktats and must-haves, there are gentle suggestions and hints of what may appeal. Today it’s more about how you wear an outfit that matters, with style hacks that instantly elevate existing wardrobe favourites, clever new ways to wear a scarf, or which jeans best suit your shape.
All this freedom may sound wonderful, but freedom can be daunting. So where do I get my inspiration from these days? I still view the fashion shows of those designers I find inspiring. Then I turn to Instagram and the carefully curated group of women I follow, who are no longer in the first flush of youth, but still have a magical ability to look stylish and unique. A few of my favourites include @susirejano, @anoukyve, @dearcharlotteparis, @lindavwright, @sissiottostyle, @whatpeoplearewearing, and @beatriz84.
It’s all about finding your style heroes, the women in your tribe and accepting they may change over time. It also helps to visit a big city as a source for inspiration. I may live in the countryside now, and there are some beautifully dressed women here, but for me nothing beats a quick trip to Notting Hill and Chelsea if I wish to be fired up with new ideas.
Nothing will ever prevent women shopping for something new. So my advice is to go in two distinctly different directions. If your purchase is a whim, a fashion flutter, then spend the least amount possible. But when it comes to something you hope to hang
