Transcendental
As each season comes to its end and a new one takes centerstage in the world’s style capitals, many of us find ourselves rummaging through our wardrobes to come up with a new look that will, as many of the fashion aficionados will declare, go with the trends. While there is absolutely nothing wrong with constant reinvention, we interestingly find that many of the most stylish and emulated figures in history — Jackie Onassis, Lee Radziwill, Audrey Hepburn, Coco Chanel and Grace Kelly among others — are names eternally embedded in our fickle fashion consciousness because of their timeless, elegant and classic style.
Take Hubert Givenchy’s introduction of the little black dress immortalized in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Or the dandy suits donned by Marlene Dietrich during the roaring ‘30s. There was nothing outlandish or boisterous about these pieces, only a subtle yet distinctive character about them that became a formula for stalwarts of style today. Inarguably, the fashionable set will continue to prescribe to the current movements on the runways. You most likely find yourself purchasing this year’s “it” bag or stocking up on those patent leather accessories. Declarations like “gray is the new black” will be made, greeted by allies of style with eager anticipation and willingness to comply.
Regardless of where the tides of fashion may lead, there remain the classic ageless looks that transcend time — stretch bandage dresses made popular by ‘80s designer Herve Leger, bold colors that were once reflective of the culmination of women’s power dressing, a merging of androgynous pieces with more quintessential feminine quirk, suits that were brought to light by Shiaparelli’s severe cuts and the perpetual presence of stark blacks and immaculate whites. These ensembles that stand out through their design elements and sensibilities go beyond the dictates of even the most influential of collections out there today. Instead, they are recreated, reinterpreted to suit contemporary times while staying essentially, transcendental.
(E-mail the author at bianca.salonga@gmail.com)
