Whether we like to think about it or not, fashion is very powerful. Most times, you know which nation people belong to by looking at their manner of dress. Now on a more superficial level, think Italy, London, New York and LA.
On a recent trip to Italy, I was struck by the number of designer bags and labels on the streets. Everyone looked like they had a reason to dress up and they openly assessed your clothing. Paris on the other hand was a lot more subdued, tastefully chic - the women looked as fantastic but in a more Hermes, Chanel type of way. Spain was a little closer to Italy and Canada (West Coast -very Lulu-lemon), Eastern Canada was a lot more upstate New Yorker. I could go on but I don’t wish to offend any country.
From country to country, the way the women dress have always seemed to typify their values, religious beliefs and is a reflection of the society as a whole, which is why this British article interested me.
“If English as spoken by the British and Americans is the same but different, then the contrasts in the language of fashion in London and New York are even more pronounced. You need only observe the audiences during London and New York Fashion Weeks: the British are generally notable for what is sometimes known as ‘edgy’ or ‘directional’ outfits, which can be code for plain messy, while the New Yorkers follow the lead of Anna Wintour, the perfectly groomed editor of American Vogue, who has a blow-dry at dawn every morning.
Scarily, the high-maintenance stakes are upped from East Coast to West, despite the widespread pretence in Hollywood that its inhabitants look naturally gorgeous (as if nature had anything to do with it).
So pronounced is the contrast between our laissez-faire attitude and the West Coast approach that Marcia Kilgore, the founder of the Bliss spas, has actually come up with a mathematical equation to quantify the difference: ‘The ratio of artificial enhancement increases as you travel west, therefore LA = London squared.’”
