While they might sound like interchangeable terms, there are very clear differences between style and fashion and by extension, between being stylish and being fashionable. Fashion by its very nature is fleeting and temporary, it’s all about the here and now as trends come and go, with increasing frequency. Fashion has rules and boundaries, it dictates what combination of clothing, shoes and accessories have to be worn together and what colour and/ or print they all have to be.
Style on the other hand is all about personal expression, it’s taking the individual elements that fashion provides to create a sartorial statement that is all your own. While fashion will have us looking back at a picture of ourselves and screaming, “What was I thinking!” style will have us look at that same picture and think, “I loved that jacket; I should find another one like it!”
But while style and fashion have very clear differences, they do make a harmonious pair and are actually quite dependent upon on each other. Without the inspiration that fashion provides, our personal styles could slip into pure functionality, relegating garments to mere cover-ups. In the same breathe, without the creativity and personality that stems from the personal styles of its designers, fashion and its brands would be stagnant and lacklustre. As Coco Chanel once said: “I don’t do fashion, I am fashion.”
Former model and actress Lauren Hutton most succinctly described the difference between style and fashion when she stated: “Fashion is what you are offered four times a year by designers. And style is what you choose. “
When making our choices of all that the designers are offering every season it’s important to remember that fashion doesn’t just refer to the most sparkly and outrageous garments going down the runway, but also to the subtle little changes made to classic staples. It’s these seasonal little tweaks to classic pieces that usually have the biggest impact on our style choices in the long run.
The Denim Trucker Jacket
A great example of subtle tweaks that rejuvenate a classic piece is this season’s offerings of the humble denim trucker jacket. This winter’s runways and editorials have proclaimed that denim truckers should be elevated from their normally very casual styling roots to be paired with the season’s must-have high fashion pieces. While for most fashion’s editorial styling of the denim trucker might be a tad over the top, it’s the idea that this jacket can be elevated to be a fashion-forward piece that will have a lasting impact. Seasonal updates for the denim trucker jacket include beading, applique and faux fur or shearling collars.
The Pleated Skirt
The knee-length pleated skirt has always been seen as a rather demure piece of clothing but recent fashion updates to this garment have been breaking that perception. Shimmer and metallic options of the pleated skirt have ensured that even if you choose the classic styling route of pairing it with a cami and blazer, you’re bound to look right on-trend. If you’re looking to break the classic styling mould however, a chunky-knit or oversized jumper make great alternatives.
Athleisure Influences
The rise of social media as an integral part of our lives has seen the importance of street style gain increasing influence on the fashion industry. I feel it’s fair to state that for many the street style pics from the world’s fashion weeks are becoming as important as the runway ones. And with the increased importance of what’s being worn on the street to the fashion industry, elements of more casual or sporty dressing like sports tape, side stripes on pants and popper details have made their way onto the world’s runways.
Fashion changes, but style endures. – Coco Chanel
