STREET STYLE REIGNS SUPREME Catwalk on the pavement In this era of social media, globalisation and swift cultural exchanges, street style has emerged as one of the most powerful forces driving fashion and shaping trends
The fashion world functioned for decades according to a linear model in which style trends were first seen at shows in Paris, Mi- lan and New York, and then grad- ually “descended” to mass fashion outlets and ended up in the ward- robes of all of us ordinary people. But everything has changed today and street style is becoming a source of inspiration, despite being considered a mere “support act” at the shows of the most celebrated designers. Spontaneous, authentic outfits seen on the streets during fashion weeks – or worn by influencers and trendsetters year-round – are becom- ing just as influential as collections created by designers. And indeed, many of the trends currently dom- inating both luxury and fast fashion actually originated on the streets. Street style reflects a global dialogue taking place in real time, where in- dividuals express their attitude be- yond the confines of traditional fash- ion houses. This is a celebration of creativity and individuality, with in- fluencers, content creators and fash- ionistas all offering their own inter- pretations of seasonal trends.
When Irina Shayk emerges from the Carolina Herrera show sporting a long muslin dress, tai- lored men’s coat and chunky boots, it becomes a silhouette worth copy- ing. The same goes for Kendall Jen- ner in an off-duty moment after the Alaia show at the New York Guggenheim – those white socks and black retro moccasins are an instantaneous imperative. This is also noticed and followed by crea- tors. While the catwalks once dic- tated the trends, the relationship between street style and designer fashion has now become symbiot- ic. Prabal Gurung went a step fur- ther at this September’s New York Fashion Week, by lowering the cat- walk to the sidewalk to showcase his highly aestheticised flowing gowns in the concrete landscape of the Big Apple. Street style represents the fu-
ture of fashion in many ways. It is inclusive, respectful of differences and evolving constantly. It celebrates the creativity of the individual by encouraging people to wear what makes them feel confident and true to themselves. So, let’s see which city has the best street style this season. We’ve selected two... just about what happens on the cat- walk, rather it’s also about what hap- pens outside the shows. The Man- hattan sidewalks become eclectic catwalks in their own right, where models, editors, influencers and fash- ionistas express their personal style and establish new trends. This sea- son’s street style was a proper treat for the eyes, balancing classic New York “edge” with a fresh wave of dar- ing creativity. While maximalism had its place, many fashion show attend- ees turned to the power of minimal- ism, demonstrating that less really NEW YORK New York Fashion Week isn’t
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