Columnists

STEP BACK IN TIME

By Lisa Spurgin ⋅ February 25, 2008 ⋅  Print this post ⋅ Post a comment

Fashion’s a funny thing isn’t it? What the so-called experts deem the ‘in’ thing just seems to loop round in never-ending regurgitated circles until somewhat surprisingly you find that cute dress you’ve been lusting after very closely resembles something your mum wore in a faded photograph. But while the old becomes new (for the 104th time), we never seem able to recapture the magic of the original trend – something’s always missing. Take for example what was quite possibly the stylish decade ever, a time epitomised by flowing gowns and classic Hollywood chic – the 1950s. In comparison to style icons such as Audrey Hepburn, today’s celeb fashionistas just seem like rather cheap imitations – not so much sprinkled with stardust as just smudged with glitter glue. But back then fashion went more than skin (or should it be thread?) deep – it was a way of life. Our modern day equivalents don’t seem to have the same effect. OK, so Kate Moss can get her designs (if they are actually crafted by her own hands…) flying off the racks but attracting Pete Doherty-a-likes takes the shine off things somewhat, as does realising you look as though you’ve come off a factory line of identi-Kates. Perhaps it’s time to stop attempting to squeeze ourselves in skinny jeans and bring back some old-school glamour.