If you have watched or read Paper Towns, you’ll know that paper towns are deliberate fictitious entries used as copyright traps to reveal copyright infringement. When Farfetch reached out to me and asked me to create my version of the perfect fashion week, it got me thinking about designers and their work and how it all gets filtered down to your local chain store outlet. Now I’m not saying that high street is just badly made-for-plebs stock since 99.9% of my closet consists of these unoriginal knock offs. What I am trying to say is that yes, fashion week is a strange and inaccessible phenomenon for us commoners but it shouldn’t have to be. The rise of luxury e-commerce retail has already bridged this gap with sites like Farfetch providing all the biggest international and Australian brands, both hot off the catwalk and dug up from the past vintage. We have public art galleries that everyone can access so why not do the same for fashion … get rid of all that exclusivity and caste system that goes something like editors, celebrities, a-list bloggers, etc.
Instead of runways, I propose presentations. I loved Ten Piece’s show in the Bondi Icebergs pool last season so public places like that and the steps of the Opera House would be great stages to admire these brilliant works of art. Reminds me of those Qantas ‘Spirit of Australia’ advertisements where the kids stand in different spots and sing. It would also save those poor photographers scurrying frantically around with their long lenses, trying to get all fifty looks snapped in under ten minutes. I would love to see Alex Perry, Ellery, Zimmerman, Alice McCall and Sass & Bide but more than anything, Paolo Sebastian. Couture is where the heart is at and Sebastian’s South Australian handcrafted pieces make me swoon.
Fashion Week, I believe is an incredibly stressful time in the fashion world. The amount of tweeting, snapping and gramming that happens before, after and during the show is insane. I, myself have never been to such an affair so I will compare it to what I find stressful: examinations. When I am stressed, I need to be comfortable … so I carry this sentiment into how I would dress for fashion week. A matching top and bottom set that reads like gallery worthy masterpieces (they are Valentino after all) but feel like sleepwear, Charlotte Olympia slippers that take the constellation theme to the next level and a bag that is this season’s it silhouette whilst still managing to resemble a sleeping bag so you can take a nap in between shows.
Shirt / Trousers / Shoes / Bag
To the uninitiated, fashion week is kinda weird … whats with all the bizarre everything? I realise now that fashion week is about putting a lot of stuff together and then hoping that you will end up on some well known street style blog deeming you the coolest kool khat of the year. If that’s the goal, then I want to be repping my favourite Aussies. Starting with an Alex Perry of course, shouldering with an Ellery piece and hiding my lack of face makeup with some Ksubi shades. Then there is the conversation starter piece – “oh this old thing … its a Chanel cosmetic bag that doubles as my camera bag” and then these garish Dolce & Gabanna sneakers that I am hideously attracted to.
Bag / Dress / Shoes / Sunnies / Blazer
This was an interesting post to develop. It required some research which taps into the business student that I am and I don’t really know how I managed to stumble upon this paper towns concept but I went with it even though it doesn’t really make much sense. I hope you enjoyed reading nevertheless and as always, have a great week ahead!
Blog Post created for Farfetch ‘Take Over Australian Fashion Week’
STYLE SMORGASBORD 