NATURAL MATTERS

Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain…

As you may be aware from the proliferation of headlines that end in “…and the internet is very upset about it!” the Internet is constantly very upset about various things. Some of those things provoke quite understandable if not righteous upper. Other times though, the internet just seems bored and looking for something to kick around the ol’ Twitter echo chamber.

The world of fashion meanwhile has a long history of provoking, teasing, scandalizing, and, dare we say it, trolling. Actual scandal-worthy fashion moments aside, it is of little surprise then that occasionally otherwise inoffensive fashion items and objects get caught in the Twitter outrage cycle simply for existing. Would fashion really be doing it’s job in 2017 if it didn’t occasionally provoke such strong reactions online? We have little doubt that that was the point at least some of these designers (we’re looking at you Demna) were trying to make. Others maybe were perhaps just playing catch up on what they perceived as a trend.

 

 

Mike Rowe, host of Discovery Channel’s Dirty Jobs, entered into the world online fashion critic earlier this year when he discovered a pair of $425 jeans on sale at Nordstrom’s from the brand PRPS. He positioned them as another volley in “our country’s War on Work.” He continued, “They’re not even fashion. They’re a costume for wealthy people who see work as ironic – not iconic.” Fair point. Really though we were also a bit offended that DSquared2 already did the whole purposefully muddied jeans a few years ago. In fact, Gwen Stefani was spotted wearing the originals when she first started dating Blake Shelton. See, there are occasional situation in which a high fashion-meets-down home country boy aesthetic really is necessary.

How do you add intrigue to a minimal outfit? By clashing textures and skillfully blending high and low pieces. Jil Sander’s PVC trench is a trophy piece of the highest order; make it sing by pairing it with blue denim and a subtle slogan tee in clean white. Want to dial up the drama even more? Apply a liberal helping of spring’s most covetable accessories: a structural leather bag (Wandler’s Hortensia style is an instant classic); of-the-moment statement earrings courtesy of Alessandra Rich; and The Row’s envy-inducing stiletto boots.

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Like exercise trends of earlier decades, it can feel like one more requirement         of womanhood

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How do you add intrigue to a minimal outfit? By clashing textures and skillfully blending high and low pieces. Jil Sander’s PVC trench is a trophy piece of the highest order; make it sing by pairing it with blue denim and a subtle slogan tee in clean white. Want to dial up the drama even more? Apply a liberal helping of spring’s most covetable accessories: a structural leather bag (Wandler’s Hortensia style is an instant classic); of-the-moment statement earrings courtesy of Alessandra Rich; and The Row’s envy-inducing stiletto boots.

 

Mike Rowe, host of Discovery Channel’s Dirty Jobs, entered into the world online fashion critic earlier this year when he discovered a pair of $425 jeans on sale at Nordstrom’s from the brand PRPS. He positioned them as another volley in “our country’s War on Work.” He continued, “They’re not even fashion. They’re a costume for wealthy people who see work as ironic – not iconic.” Fair point. Really though we were also a bit offended that DSquared2 already did the whole purposefully muddied jeans a few years ago. In fact, Gwen Stefani was spotted wearing the originals when she first started dating Blake Shelton. See, there are occasional situation in which a high fashion-meets-down home country boy aesthetic really is necessary.

 

People were absolutely astounded, at least in between that time that they read the Tweet or headline and when they actually go to the details, that Prada was selling a $150 “paper clip.” In reality, of course, it was a sterling silver money clip shaped like a paper clip (and when you really think about it, all clips really do the same thing). $150 is a lot for a paper clip, but it’s actually not that eye boggling when you look at other high-end money clips.