Look Sharp, Sconnie - Midwestern Fashion Nerd, Chronic Over-thinker

A Case for the Wannabes. . .

I'm a wannabe. 

No doubt about it. 
Which is why I empathize so strongly with H&M. 
Not that it needs my sympathy, considering that it's made trillions of kabillions of dollars off of its wannabe status, 
but still...
I get it. 

In fact, I think that people who write fashion blogs are all kind of wannabes of sorts. We're not content just consuming -  we want to participate, to make, 
to be. 

Last week, H&M, which made its name mimicking designer-stipulated trends, showed a collection of its own. 
Naturally, Eric Wilson of the NYT immediately mocked the presentation, much like Suzy Menkes mocked bloggers in her recent article for the same publication. 

"Wannabe" has to get its derogatory connotation from somewhere, after all - 
god forbid it should be seen as a positive ambition to improve. 

As it is, it's essentially an insult.
I guess we have the age-old desire of the exclusive to remain exclusive to thank for that.

The collection, in my opinion, wasn't anything extraordinary. Even so, the fact that the H&M A/W '13 line was immediately pegged as irrelevant due to the fact that it wouldn't be able to imitate the collections currently showing
 is just obnoxious. 

So what if the designers at H&M want to take their imitation one step further? Maybe they've seen and learned enough from replicating thousands and thousands of fast-fashion trends to create one of their own? 
Isn't that what imitation is for, after all? 
You have to know the rules before you can break them, 
[[or so I've been told.]]

And can you imagine what this could mean for "fashion"?
What if a new, ground-breaking trend didn't begin with Dior or Lanvin and trickle downwards in a diluted iteration to a more affordable brand - but began with the affordable brand in the first place?

What if creativity wasn't limited to the elite? 

What happens when the wannabe bes?

Could a fashion industry exist in which the "aspirational" aspect wasn't based on wealth, but on sheer innovation? Would we lose the quality and intricacy of designer goods if affordable brands reigned supreme?

Is the only reason that the H&M collection "crashed" PFW, rather than joined it, because of its inherent wannabe status? It's affordability?
hat, tank 1, tank 2, jeans, gold necklace: H&M, blue necklace: Anthro, boots: Jeffrey Campbell

Cheers.






Facebook tweet this Pin It Share on Google+

5 comments:

  1. far and wild jewelryMarch 11, 2013 at 10:22 AM

    i for one was stoked that h&m showed their own collection. it showed a desire to contribute more than just knock offs to the fashion world and maybe leave a little more of a lasting mark. regardless as to how it went over it was a step in the right direction. but maybe i'm just excited to see a fellow wannabe make good.

    abigail
    www.farandwildjewelry.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
      Reply
  2. ALLIE NYCMarch 11, 2013 at 10:51 AM

    Great post brings up some interesting ideas.

    Ali of

    www.dressingken.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
      Reply
  3. UnknownMarch 11, 2013 at 1:42 PM

    Yes indeed, what IF fashion was based on innovation as opposed to wealth? {What a concept!} Great post, dear! XOXO

    www.foxyoxiesupernova.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
      Reply
  4. UnknownMarch 11, 2013 at 5:46 PM

    Great post, and I love your blog! I found you via Links a la Mode on IFB with your smile post. :) As a bargain-shopping fashion blogger, I think the kind of snobbery you're talking about is so silly. I shop at H&M when I'm in a city that has one - KC is closest. I also love Target and TJ Maxx, not to mention the fact that I'm a thrift store maven! I grew up very poor, so even though I COULD buy the pricey stuff now, I don't. Sure, I want a pair of Loubutin Pigalle's. But I also want to retire young. So, there you have it.
    http://rorschachcoffee.typepad.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
      Reply
  5. sMarch 11, 2013 at 6:26 PM

    love this entire outfit! you look so so stunning! xO!
    www.thehautecookie.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
      Reply
Add comment
Load more...

Newer Post Older Post Home
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)
about
facebook twitter instagram pinterest in udder news bloglovin polyvore subscribe Image Map

watch me

watch me
download the app to see me move
© Look Sharp Sconnie. Design by Lindsay Tratz. Powered by Blogger.