Blazing On

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.

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