We all need a dose of fantasy in our lives, particularly as the once-compelling cacophony of world events falls dully on disillusioned ears. Your newsfeed blurs into a grey sludge, and all you can think about is something else, something different, new, to take your mind off of the scariness of reality. The desire to get out pulls at your gut, gnawing at your more practical sensibilities. The scary dips into the surreal, and suddenly you’re on a spaceship whizzing by planets of sequins and technicolor spandex, motorcycling past mountains of pink sand while casually flicking day-glo fringe out of your glitter-lined eyes. Or, at least, that’s what Fashion Month thinks you should do right now. Consciousnesses exhausted by melancholy eagerly gobbled up designers’ fits of fancy, famished for optimism.
“…and suddenly you’re on a spaceship whizzing by planets of sequins and technicolor spandex…”
Bedecked escapism walked the runway in many iterations; of particular interest was the treatment of blazers. Typically associated with wall-street stuffiness, spring/summer ‘18’s blazers made it their mission to turn all preconceptions of the garment on their heads. Magnificently oversized examples were shown, replete with shoulder pads perfect for midday naps and elaborate embellishment to distract from any and all responsibilities. Designers made the case for blazers as the modern-day suit of armour, protecting one from being perceived as slovenly, soft, or weak. Projecting strength and professionalism, blazers ward off the helpless feeling of passive reception and turn you into an actor, a player in this great game of life.
“Projecting strength and professionalism, blazers ward off the helpless feeling of passive reception and turn you into an actor, a player in this great game of life.”
And to have one bedecked with gems? It eliminates any vestige of unwanted pretension, melding prim professionalism with ironic, outrageous glamour. The contrast is visually striking, lending structure and dynamism to an outfit. It’s like becoming a walking anachronism, a sartorial clash- and, if anything, our generation could certainly be defined as a great big, smoldering, spitting clash.
Click through for some of Fashion Month’s best escapist ensembles, with a refreshing emphasis on powerhouse blazers and otherworldly outerwear.
- Acne Studios, Paris Fashion Week
- Acne Studios, Paris Fashion Week
- Acne Studios, Paris Fashion Week
- Alexander McQueen, Paris Fashion Week
- Alexander Vauthier, Paris Fashion Week
- Altuzarra, Paris Fashion Week
- Anna Sui, New York Fashion Week
- Anya Hindmarch, London Fashion Week
- apc, Paris Fashion Week
- ashish, London Fashion Week
- Balenciaga, Parish Fashion Week
- Balenciaga, Paris Fashion Week
- Balmain, Paris Fashion Week
- Bottega Veneta, Milan Fashion Week
- Calvin Klein, NYFW
- Carolina Herrera, NYFW
- Celine, Paris Fashion Week
- Chalayan, London Fashion Week
- Chanel, Paris Fashion Week
- Chanel, Paris Fashion Week
- Chloe, Paris Fashion Week
- Chloe, Paris Fashion Week
- Christian Dior, Paris Fashion Week
- Christian Dior, Paris Fashion Week
- Comme des Garcons, Paris Fashion Week
- Comme des Garcons, Paris Fashion Week
- Courreges, Paris Fashion Week
- Dolce and Gabbana, Milan Fashion Week
- Dries van Noten, Paris Fashion Week
- DROMe, Paris Fashion Week
- Emilia Wickstead, London Fashion Week
- Emilio de la Morena, London Fashion Week
- Emporio Armani, London Fashion Week
- fashion east, London Fashion Week
- Faustine Stienmentz, London Fashion Week
- Fendi, Milan Fashion Week
- Gabriela Hearst, NYFW
- Gabriela Hearst, NYFW
- Gucci, Milan Fashion Week
- Gucci, Milan Fashion Week
- Haider Ackermann, Paris Fashion Week
- Isabel Marant, Paris Fashion Week
- Issey Miyake, Paris Fashion Week
- John Galliano, Paris Fashion Week
- Joseph, London Fashion Week
- Locoste, Paris Fashion Week
- Loewe, Paris Fashion Week
- Louis Vuitton, Paris Fashion Week
- Louis Vuitton, Paris Fashion Week
- Mansur Gavriel, NYFW
- marni, Milan Fashion Week
- marni, Milan Fashion Week
- Marques’Almeida, London Fashion Week
- Mary Katranzou, London Fashion Week
- Missoni, Milan Fashion Week
- Miu Miu, Paris Fashion Week
- Molly Goddard, London Fashion Week
- Moschino, Milan Fashion Week
- msgm, Milan Fashion Week
- msgm, Milan Fashion Week
- Olivier Theyskens, Paris Fashion Week
- Olivier Theyskens, Paris Fashion Week
- Paco Rabanne, Paris Fashion Week
- Prada, Milan Fashion Week
- Prada, Milan Fashion Week
- Prada, Milan Fashion Week
- Ralph Lauren, NYFW
- Rick Owens, Paris Fashion Week
- Saint Laurent, Paris Fashion Week
- Saint Laurent, Paris Fashion Week
- Sonia Rykiel, Paris Fashion Week
- Sonia Rykiel, Paris Fashion Week
- Thom Browne, Paris Fashion Week
- Thom Browne, Paris Fashion Week
- Tom Ford, NYFW
- Tom Ford, NYFW
- Tommy Hilfiger, London Fashion Week
- Tommy Hilfiger, London Fashion Week
- Topshop, London Fashion Week
- Undercover, Paris Fashion Week
- Valentino, Paris Fashion Week
- Vanessa Seward, Paris Fashion Week
- Versace, Milan Fashion Week
- Versace, Milan Fashion Week
- Victoria Beckham, NYFW
- Zadig and Volair, NYFW
- Victoria Beckham, NYFW
- Versace, Milan Fashion Week
- Versace, Milan Fashion Week
- Versace, Milan Fashion Week
Emily Bacal
Paris, London and Milan Fashion week spring/summer 2018 photographs: elle.com
NYFW spring/summer 2018 photographs: marieclaire.co.uk
featured image: Gucci, Milan Fashion Week