This month marks Seaside‘s third annual fashion spread: It’s Only Love … This Fall (pg. 15) and its pages showcase some gorgeous autumn clothes to suit a wide range of styles.
If someone were to ask me to describe my “style,” however, I’d be hard pressed to come up with the right words. Not because my style is unique and indescribable, but because I don’t really have one! Some people just have the right touch when putting together an outfit (like our stylist for this issue, Rachael Holland). They know just what accessories to put with that dress that will pull the whole thing together … I, on the other hand, do not. I’ve never been all that interested in fashion – I dress for comfort (working from home helps me indulge that “style” far more than I probably should) and, while I’ll certainly take a stab at putting together a perfectly coordinated outfit in the store, more often than not the mannequins will end up looking more stylish than me.
Back in the days of TLC’s What Not to Wear – a show where people lacking in the style department are surprised with a gift card to the stores of New York and the assistance of two fashion experts – my sister planned to submit my story to see if we could “style me up” a little after college, to get me out of my beloved jeans and hooded sweatshirts and into suits and business casual attire. Well, that plan fizzled out and here I am, 10-odd years later, wearing my favourite jeans, a tank top and a cardigan (too hot for a hoodie today).
Seaside‘s twice-yearly fashion spread is simply a way of offering our readers features on a wide variety of topics; in the grand scheme of things, our role as a trendsetter is fairly minor. However, the world of fashion magazines – Elle, Vogue and other similar publications – has been influencing world style for around 100 years.
According to Wikipedia: “Around the start of the 20th century fashion style magazines began to include photographs and became even more influential than in the future. In cities throughout the world these magazines were greatly sought-after and had a profound effect on public taste. Talented illustrators – among them Paul Iribe, Georges Lepape, Erté, and George Barbier – drew attractive fashion plates for these publications, which covered the most recent developments in fashion and beauty.”
Over the last century, many factors have gone into trying to influence me to indulge in – and spend money on – today’s trends, but for now I’ll leave the style to the fashionistas and designers and stick with my jeans and hoodie.
