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Swing State Style
Nate Harris, a New York transplant who hails from Northeast Ohio, between Akron and Cleveland--the part of the state that won Ohio for Obama—noted that the area’s industrial roots have largely dictated dress. Most people in Akron have ties to the rubber industry: Goodyear, Firestone and Michelin.
“I think people from there have a real no-frills attitude, which is reflected in their style,” says Harris. “I think swing states are places where the metrosexual thing never even registered on guy's radar. And I guess it's pretty predictable given the reactionary nature of fashion trends that a revolt against cosmopolitan style was inevitable.”
Plaid is the comfort food of clothing, the ultimate nonpartisan melding and merging of colors, at once functional and rooted in working class culture.
It’s anti-fashion fashion, emphasizing comfort and economy. These are things that harried urban dwellers could do well to adopt. Elements of Americana have already made a resurgence in fashion. Designer Rogan Gregory, for example, created a collection for next spring inspired by a second-hand jacket and pair of pants he found in Amish country. “I’m attracted to Amish design because it is utilitarian and the ultimate anti-bling,” explains Gregory to The Daily Beast.
But if we were to pick one symbol for post-election America right now—one thing urban and non-urban dwellers seem to agree on this season--it would be the all-American plaid. Thankfully, fashion designers—always leading the zeitgeist, have adopted plaid now more than ever.
Plaid is the comfort food of clothing, the ultimate nonpartisan melding and merging of colors, at once functional and rooted in working class culture; a convenient, no-nonsense expression of a non-elitist sensibility yet beloved by high fashion. Plaid, a pattern with a history of rugged rebelliousness (see tartan: shrouds for warring Scottish clans and English punks alike), appeals to everyone from my Colorado mountain-raised grandfather to the Urban Outfitters-wearing hipsters down the block.
Plus, says Harris: “When money's tight, it's nice to have clothes that feel strong and sturdy that you could fell a tree in and then go to dinner wearing at Momofuku.”
Whether your preference for plaid tends more towards Sears than Ralph Lauren, this fall produced a wealth of plaid options to choose from. In the gallery: an ode to plaid, both past and present. Time to embrace the fabric of our future lives.
Renata Espinosa is the New York Editor of Fashion Wire Daily. She is also the co-founder of impressionistic fashion and art blog TheNuNu and a sometimes backup dancer for "The Anna Copa Cabanna Show."
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Renata Espinosa is the New York editor of Fashion Wire Daily. She is also the co-founder of impressionistic fashion and art blog TheNuNu and a sometimes backup dancer for "The Anna Copa Cabanna Show."
Back to plaid...
There's a lot of plaid in the fall collections in Paris, Milan and London too. Suzy Menkes did a column on plaid about a week ago in the International Herald Tribune, but instead of American midwest plaid, she talked about plaid's ancient celtic roots made modern by Alexander McQueen etc...and of course punk because she's English. I live in Paris and blue and green plaid is the BCBG (bon chic bon genre or fat cat preppy) standard in both good times and bad; French people here are nototoriously close to their "sous" and the last thing they want is to display any overt bling bling.
I'm looking forward to fashion taking a more commn touch. Back in the day the most chic thing was to look "young," now it's too much about "luxury." And I can't think of anything stodgier than luxe. Let's give the cashmere a rest!
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