Recent runway collections reflect a pivotal moment in fashion’s identity, embracing chaos as a source of creative liberation
In our post-pandemic existence, the lines between order and disorder blur like smudged makeup and fray like fabric edges. Fashion faces a dilemma: where chaos dominates and perfection steps aside. Pristine surfaces and sanitized environments clash with a newfound appreciation for the raw, the imperfect, and the unfiltered. But there’s an inspiring truth in the confusion and tumult: acknowledging imperfection as a form of expression resonates deeply.
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Musings on Cleanliness and Chaos
When we confront messiness, whether in our closets or our lives, it triggers something within us. It’s not the clothes strewn across the floor or thoughts scattered like seeds, but the pressure to maintain composure through our appearance. While clean visuals are often preferred, the acceptance of chaos in the form of layers and asymmetry pushes us to reevaluate what defines beauty.
Why are we so fixated on cleanliness and unsettled by dirt? Cleaning, in its essence, offers clarity—it unveils the hidden, polishes the rough edges, and presents a sanitized version of reality. But art thrives on chaos; it rebels against the neatness imposed upon it, finding strength in its raw, unfiltered state.
Finding Strength in Disorder
The fashion industry is navigating its own identity crisis. In its current state, recent runway collections reflect its tension: disparate styles diverge, colors collide, and avant-garde aspirations amplify discordant beauty. Does it matter? Perhaps not in the traditional sense. What matters is the catharsis found in the mess—a collective exhale that liberates.
There’s a potent strength in letting it be and letting go. It comes from reclaiming power from the tidiness that confines us, around cleaning out not just closets but the clutter of past traumas and societal expectations. Fashion’s messy moment becomes a metaphorical spring cleaning—a chance to unearth authenticity.
In their new collections, Chinese designer Shuting Qiu referenced Vietnamese artist Le Pho through abstract art; Julien Dossena revived “British thrift store style” for Rabanne, Arnaud Vaillant and Sébastien Meyer of Coperni paid tribute to Silicon Valley, and Alessandro Michele aimed to tackle Valentino Garavani’s codes in his way.
For trending styles, bag charms and eclectic accessories highlight a playful nature, while mismatched patterns and layered textures redefine whimsy in a refreshingly unorthodox manner. Whether ideation or execution, there is beautiful excess to be discovered here, and all for the better of it.
Embrace the Mess
Looking around, history reviewed artists who thrived in the chaos, designers who reshaped norms, and events sprung from the remains of tradition. From the wave of climate strikes igniting sustainable movements to the COVID-19 pandemic accelerating e-commerce dominance, messiness has been a catalyst for shifts in fashion and culture.
Reveling in the disarray sparks creativity, finds solace in the disorder that mirrors our world, and redefines beauty through the confines of perfection. Fashion’s messy moment is a philosophy, a rebellion, and a celebration of the imperfect beauty of honesty.
Do we find catharsis in the mess? If so, it’s time to use that as a source of strength. If not, maybe it’s time to get messy.
Photos: VALENTINO, COPERNI, RAHUL MISHRA AFEW, JW ANDERSON, SHUTING QIU, RABANNE, DIOR, and CAROLINA HU
Featured Image: SHUTING QIU