FASHION THIS, FASHION THAT: EXPOSING THE THRILLS OF FASHION (PART 1)

Ask the regular Joe on the street what he thinks the concept of fashion is, and I can bet you will get as many response as it corresponds with the number of people the said question is asked. Within the frame work of common understanding, fashion is loosely taken to mean anything that ‘fits and subscribes to a certain trend.’ This understanding easily precludes the individual as the centre of attraction, thereby subjecting him or her to an assuming position that objectifies the true meaning of fashion. Hence, its very easy for the true meaning of fashion to be taken for granted or toy with.

Fashion trends come and go in a cyclic manner. That is to say, trends are evergreen albeit transient through eras. As such, no single trend is uniquely common to a particular society or group of people; neither is it typical with any era. We can conveniently say that, what is peculiar to say Society A, may have shared a semblance with a Society B or C. Hence, since every human person has near-same features, it is only natural to find fashion trends commonly accepted across every society.

Looking at what obtains in our contemporary age, all thanks to the internet; there seems to be a slight reversal to fashion trends of the past. Our age has taken to dress-codes that used to be. Most fashionables we find around now are alluring in one way or the other to the 60s and 70s. Recall I noted earlier that fashion works in a cyclic manner; it goes round into extinction only to resurface much later like a ghost from the past.

Our orientation has shifted its base to some forty and fifty years ago. This is true with the colour combinations commonly used by dress makers these days. The trend is traceable to the late 50s and early 60s, through the 70s. Most of the colour matching appear off and do not rhyme nor make courteous meaning, yet they seem to be en vogue and have huge appeal to the youths. Tight pant trousers and saggy jean linings which date back to the early 70s are commonly worn by teenagers, youngsters, and some older folks who incline to the trend. Wizkid, Denrele and Charly boy come to mind here!

Be it as it may, the thrills of fashion has gone beyond words. It can only get better. Fashion designers are still on a further match to discovering and rediscovering trends and styles that are best imagined. Fashion runways, fashion events and fashion shows are on the increase. A testament to this is the many ‘Fashion Week’ that continue to hold worldwide every other month.

Though the 2011 Nigeria Fashion Week (NFW) held late last year, the show succeeded in throwing up a ‘creative theme,’ that has dominated the scene this year. If only the show can be supported to full purpose, one can only imagine how far such an event can go to bolster the fashion industry in Nigeria.