Although we all know that wearing a crinoline, for example, isn't exactly considered regular or even irregular [because literally no one wears them anymore], we still admire it.
A good piece of fashion lives on. May not be in the real world, we may not see it on the streets of our cities, nor on the fashion magazine covers anymore, but it still remains as inspiration to many-a-designers that swear by the fashion of the 19th, 18th, 17th or any other century before the present.
Modernizing things is what people constantly do. Making it more wearable, more casual, more practical, more "with the times", as you'd say.
Yes, a modernization of the past is necessary for development, and fashion is no different.
Although I admire immensely those velvet poofy coats, that top-hat, those beautiful Victorian boots that lace up at the front - we have to admit > today's fashion doesn't tolerate time consuming, heavy, complicated pieces of clothing, because, frankly, no one has the time for those impracticalities.
These are a few modern day variations on the styles we all know scream class, but are still practical enough to live with us in our time and make our days and out lives a bit more magical with each wear:
The Velvet Coat
The velvet coat is a staple, a true classic in every sense of the word. Some people think of Baroque and Victorian eras when conjuring up the image of a velvet coat, but it doesn't have to be that way. The classic velvet coat was long, usually up to the knees or to the ankles. Women's coats would even drag on the floor covering their lavish dresses. Those were truly times of luxury versus misery.
The coats were made out of heavy velvet hence they were warm, but also impractically burdensome on the bodies of their wearers.
Today we can find different styles, lengths, patterns - from blazers to ankle length coats. Although, unfortunately, the world doesn't seem to think its missing more velvet clothing...it truly is.
The Lace Gown
As simple as it may sound, lace gowns were always one of the most expensive ones - lace was sown in by hand - a very tough, detailed and time consuming endeavor. If you know anything about fashion it is that the best pieces take the most time to produce. The intricate work that took up most of the tailor's time would result in an amazing display of patterns and free-falling subtly see-through fabric which would then be added onto another layer, and another...and so on. Usually the fabric wasn't only lace - because of the time and money - the bases were made out of more solid materials.
Today, when we think of a lace gown, usually the lace is all that there is. Modern to show off some skin, minimalistic in it's complicated nature - contrast in it's most modern form.
The Corset Top
The corset was used as an undergarment peace that would slim the woman's figure and give her a more accentuated hourglass shape.
Nowadays it's worn as a top or as lingerie. Admittedly, of different look and function, depending on what the person is looking for, the corset nowadays is mostly figurative, designed to be worn as decoration rather than to serve a function.
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P.S. Fashion shows are a whole other ball game - impracticality is what makes some of the best designers, but it's also what makes the least wearable outfits.
We'll talk about it in the next MyTake!
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