Just like a painting, or a song, fashion also plays a
main role in the fusion of different cultures and
influences. Eastern and Western cultures engage in an
important part in the Fashion trends of today. These two
are fused in the fashion industry in many ways, the
British borrowing from the Russians, India from the
French, Japan and Germany, and the list continues.
Since 1890, fashion expresses tremendous influences from
the Eastern culture in the western dress resulting from
the artists and designers renowned interest in Art
Nouveau. The 1905 war between Japan and Russia and the
Chinese revolution in 1911 were fundamental for their
inspiration at the moment, as well as today. Some of the
most common characteristics are V-necklines, straight
seams, hourglass silhouettes, full sleeves toward the end,
sleeves sewn to bodice and contrasting wide waistband, to
name some.
In any store or designer line, you can find eastern
inspired clothing like embroidered tunics, beaded
necklines on dresses and shirts, jeweled handbags in Sari
fabrics, reminiscing different characteristics from the
East. Pashminas, for example, are now an every day basic
item for most women to wear either on a date to the movies
or to a fancy formal gala.
The spices of life are more to some and less to others.
Contrary to a captain with no hull beneath his deck, but a
good steady wind and a pair of Denim flares more befitting
a weather worn sailor feeling his years, to the Far East
in search of spices. Time and tide won't let a sailor
sleep.
Now it's the spices of fashion for men, the rising
tide: And, dandyism still contrasting Beau Brummell
rejection of 18th century frills, his mandate; a dark blue
coat, buff-coloured pantaloons and waistcoat, black boots
and a clean white neck cloth.
The modern sailor's uniform, endures and has remained a
popular choice for designers to mimic idiosyncratic
characters, a simple uniform to draw inspiration from;
each changing style to suit forms and functions.
Another essential item in women's wardrobe today is
the Kurta top, as simple as it can be it stands from the
rest because of its beaded detail. The Nehru jacket, born
in the 1940's and remarketed in the 1960's thanks to The
Beatles, is still an acclaimed collar style in shirts, coats
and jackets.
The element of women wearing pants, men wearing caftans
have even translated to comfort while being considered
chic forms of relax-at-home fashion. Attire wrapped around
the body like kimonos and robes, rich color fabrics, even
pagoda sleeves are eastern trends incorporated in western
fashion.
Some of the most noted designers bidding on exotic
eastern style in their creations are: Max Mara, exploring
sexy necklines and strong fabrics, Cacharel with sweet
flower prints, and Lacroix risking it with Japanese type
sleeves. Armani, Jean Paul Gaultier, Gianfranco Ferré and
Versace are only some of the top names reaching out to
their masculine lines by including eastern elements to
their lines, like pants made with kimono fabrics, mao
necklines, printed belts and even oriental type sandals
with the use of silk and heavy silk, these fabrics are the
foundation for the exotic oriental look designers are
striving for.
The Boho Chic look, on the other hand, can be represented
as a western influence on eastern culture; it embraces a
unique style where you can appreciate the fusion of both
worlds with the modern and contemporary side of the
western fashion and just a hint of eastern flair in the
jewels and beading.
Season to season, we see fashion face some radical
changes, but the east and west mixture is inescapable,
resulting always in a beautiful, artistic and also
commercial masterpiece representing a multicultural
society of designers and consumers.
Whenever you are at the mall and see a group of youngsters
wearing all black and dark makeup, you instantly think "Punk
Rock", their style reflect their character, their
personalities, who they are, or at least, who they want to
be.
You feel mostly comfortable in your own skin when you wear
clothes that reflect the real you. Don't try to wear
something just because it is fashionable, it will not look
good on you, try to personalize the trend if it does not go
well with your personality, you can also try this if you get
bored of a piece of clothing or you don't want to let go of
those old jeans, try pasting beads or pearls on them, draw
some graphics, cut your shirts in fun shapes, etc... Your
look will change mostly because you character is being
expressed in a unique way, and better yet, you did it by
yourself.
If you are reserved, elegant, sporty, sensual, unattended,
etc... it will show with your style, independently if you
are dressed to go to the gym, to a party or at a casual day
with friends. Clothes don't make the person, the person
makes the clothes, by the way they are dressed and the style
chosen to wear.
Even in jeans and a t-shirt you can tell who is a
conservative executive and who the life of the party is.
They can both be wearing the exact same shirt with the same
jeans, but the reserved one could add a trendy necklace and
bracelets and wear elegant matching top of the line shoes,
the easy going sportier person would maybe wear a long pair
of earrings with some sneakers and a little rip here and
there on the jeans.
The accessories usually are the ones to mark the point of
difference between two different styles, the jewelry as well
as the shoes are unique pieces that add some flair to your
wardrobe, try wearing shoes that don't match with your
clothes, see how that makes you feel.
On a sad day we tend to wear black or dark colors, while on
a happy day we want to wear bright colorful solids or cute
prints that can even make other people happy. Colors are an
important part of our mood, our lifestyle, our likes and
dislikes. Wearing black everyday can be mistaken for a sad
or non-caring person, but on the contrary, it could just
reflect the personality of an elegant but conservative
person who might be a professional executive by day, but at
night that little black dress will appear behind that black
jacket and will be the highlight for this person's Friday
night.
Don't let anyone judge you for not wearing what is new in
style and the latest trends off from the runway, sometimes
these looks are not even made for anyone. Clothes should
express who you really are, how you feel, and even reflect
your goals about who you want to become.
