Home is Wear the Heart Is
-SJB
3 min read
In a sea of heels so prominently pink and yellow, Balenciaga's Fall 2018 Collection is definitely not one that disappoints. From a denim overdose to boots higher than Wiz Khalifa, the collection shocked viewers over and over again.
Perhaps the most interesting, Balenciaga released their newest sneaker, the Triple S. Despite sounding like a fruity liqueur, the sneaker is super chunky, with a thick, rubber sole. Within weeks, Elsa Hosk, Hailey Baldwin, and Bella Hadid were spotted wearing the Triple S, paired with snakeskin pants or a simple Chanel bag.
To typical fashion-aware millennials, the designer’s Fall 2018 trends may raise some eyebrows. With sneakers like the Triple S back on the market, runway outfits are beginning to look slightly familiar. Familiar enough, maybe, that you’d find them in your own home.
It seems that our current outfits would definitely be approved by one specific person. With enough plaid to satisfy all of Scotland, baseball caps for every Yankee game, and white socks higher than our ankles, we just have one question: since when did we start to dress like our dads?
Plaid may have made an unforgettable appearance in 1995’s Clueless, but even Cher’s adoring smirk won’t make us forget where it all began. Beginning as a Scottish sign of royalty, early American culture adopted and redefined the style for lumberjacks (so dad.) From there, the 90’s grunge movement stole the pattern, using it as a die-hard oath of commitment to Nirvana and Pearl Jam.
Now, plaid rules the runway like neon colors in 2007. But no one is clueless, and we can’t spot a flirty plaid skirt or cropped overalls for miles. Instead, the Creatures of Comfort Fall 2018 line included oversized plaid jackets and shirts, all in dark gray and orange tones. Must we say--very, very dad.
Baseball hats and white socks followed suit. Balenciaga, Chanel, and Rag & Bone all created a version of the dad-inspired headwear, and fashion week looked more like a ball-field than a runway. Rihanna is now known for her baseball cap collection, most famously wearing one that read “I came to break hearts,” as a way to announce, once again, that she is the prototype of badasses. The next designer up at bat, Vetements released what would have been considered a sin five years ago: a high white sock, complete with red lettering and black stripes.
Instead of hearing “Woah, miss, where do you think you’re going?,” our dads now not only approve of our boyfriends, but of our outfits. Times have truly changed.
Where has the feminine and chic sneaker gone? Why has plaid jumped off our college boyfriend’s bed sheets and onto our coats? When did we ditch our berets for Yankee hats? And exactly who appointed white socks next in line for the fashion throne?
At first glance, the OOTD (Outfit Of The Dad) is reminiscent of when women first started to dress in a masculine style. In 1914, Coco Chanel made history when she designed the first women’s suit, a fur-lined ensemble that included a straight skirt. The piece made headlines, and stood as a sign of independence and equal rights.
But, unlike the Chanel suit, the Triple S doesn’t seem to be restricted to women. Kanye West, A$AP Ferg, and Pharrell were all seen sporting the sneaker, paired with--you guessed it--plaid patterns, baseball hats, and high white socks.
If it’s not just a womens fashion trend, then what is it? Why are sixteen-year-old streetwear fanatics obsessed with plaid, like it’s a kombucha place on the Lower East Side? What has compelled modern society to suddenly dress like our dads?
In a world where trends change every second, it’s hard to find something that feels familiar. At a certain age, everyone has to leave the comfort of their home and join the chaos of modern-day society. Trends often catch on because they’re different--much like Coco Chanel’s women suit, most unique things rank high in popularity. But sometimes, we just want something that feels the same. Plaid flannels and baseball caps don’t necessarily proclaim “trendy,” but they most definitely say “home.”
It’s not always about standing out and being different--at times, it’s about finding familiar ground in unfamiliar settings, and attempting to feel some sense of comfort. After all, our dad’s white sneakers are a bit more comfortable than Louboutins.
SHARE:
