The nature of change… and the nature of fashion

fashion, How-to, Nature, Art & Creativity, style, Trend, 123 Comments

Published by 3C Style

Scientific journalist, author and fashion blogger from Montreal - Journaliste scientifique, auteure et blogueuse mode de Montréal

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Do you really know what you mean when you say that you are going for a more “natural look” with your fashion? The term is generally thought to be positive, but even industry experts haven’t really dealt with this fact – nature basically changes its chic whenever it wants.
Every three months, a new season brings in a new look. Over a number of years, nature can change even the most pristine man-made paradise back into a beautiful jungle of asymmetry and wildlife. Over eons, our planet has changed from a volcano into an icebox into a greenhouse.
Why then, do we ever look for a static fashion?
The only ecosystems that work in nature are the ones that are in a constant state of flux. They respond to their surroundings. They migrate seamlessly with new forces entering the area. Change is met with acceptance, not resistance. Nothing seems forced – everything is in its natural state. The eye has a great deal of trouble singling out concepts that are supposed to make things beautiful – things like parallel structure and asymmetry – but somehow, everything fits.

“Change is never painful; only resistance to change is painful.” – Buddha

Why then, do you look to your wardrobe and try to force pieces together that don’t go? Why do you try to morph your body into clothing it was not meant for? Why is there so much force and so little acceptance in your fashion sense as you try desperately to copy the looks you see in your favorite fashion mags?
Here is an even better question for you to consider. Have you ever noticed how much this season’s high fashion looks deviate from the commercial looks that finally make their way into your local Neiman Marcus? What high fashion designers will never tell you (mostly because you just don’t run in their circles) is that the looks they show are not necessary meant to be worn. At least, not exactly the way they were shown to you. They are meant to be an inspiration. You are meant to use them and find your own personal style for that season.
Pink Trend – Vogue.com
Spring 2018 Key print Patternbank Studio – Images via Vogue.com
Sweet Pastel – Fashionista.com
Spring 2018 Trend – Harper’s Bazaar
Spring 2018 Trend report – Elle.com
2018 fashion Trend Predictions – Vogue.com
Believe it or not, high fashion is closest to nature because of its complete irreverence concerning practical use. You cultivate your look based on what your boss likes, what your neighbors wear, and what will be acceptable at your friend’s wedding. This is not natural in the least. Yes, you want to dress properly for the occasion. I get it. But do you have to blend that much?
Granted, high fashion designers have an appreciable budget and the most beautiful fabrics in the world to work with. They also have the time to sew and perform the work of creating the concepts. However, the majority of the boredom with your wardrobe does not have anything to do with money, material or even time. It has to do with the fact that you feel stifled because of those things and what is expected of you.
“How can I ever get a look together that is fun and free?” You ask yourself; you can’t come up with an answer, so you resort to the boring brown blazer and black slacks that you wear every season.
Some of the best jewelry I have ever seen comes from bird feathers that poor Serbian artists simply picked up off the ground and attached to a necklace with a bent piece of copper. Hell, you might be able to spruce up your outfit if you just send your semiprecious stones in for a cleaning. Life is about change. If you want to be natural, then you must change. Let nature inspire you. Forget the opinions of those around. They don’t pay your bills, and they can’t give you that incredible smile you get when you put together a new, unique look that no one thought of before you.
Be yourself and have fun with your clothing. This is what fashion is all about. Let the change begin!
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  2. Dear friend, this is a wonderful, inspiring and thought provoking piece of writing. You already know that I identify with the things you say about individuality and you express this incredibly well, and you have given me new things to think about too. You are being wonderfully productive at the moment and it is so lovely to see. 😊💕

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  4. Dominique, a lot of wisdom about fashion and our response to it! I’ve always thought that many of the outfits on the catwalk are totally impracticable, excessive but they can be a great launching pad for inspiration! I love the idea of taking a leaf, or literally a feather, from nature and creating a necklace from it. I’m rethinking what I wear, why, what can I change without too great a cost…ecellent post and the photos are so vibrant and colourful! 😀

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    1. Thank you Annika for your lovely comment. BTW I did order your book on Amazon and I should be receiving it around February 5th. I will speak to you soon. Have a lovely and creative week. 😍

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  5. The way you dress should reflect the way you are .of course we are influenced the fashion of the season but we must adapt it to our personality.nothing is worst then a walking maniquin.we should mKe our clothes our soul in a way.

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    1. We all have those days which seem like nothing is going the way we want, but thankfully like you said we are able to realize and appreciate the most important things we have in our life. Love and being loved is what makes our journey awesome. Thanks for sharing and thank you for your lovely comment. Have a great week. 💕

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  7. Looking forward to the new look of spring and to lose the layered look. Wonderful and informative piece. I loved this especially, “It has to do with the fact that you feel stifled because of those things and what is expected of you.” This is what holds us back. Well said!

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  11. Pingback: The nature of change… and the nature of fashion — – Smriti Kana

  12. Beautifully written and I take away several things from your post. First I love Buddha’s quote about change. It rings true for me and is the only way. Second I do love pink and my signature lipstick is a bright pink. 😉 I love black and white prints and colorful florals. But most of all I love to have fun with fashion. Sometimes I’m bad and I don’t care if a style is trending or not. If it makes me feel good and gives me that little bit of attitude 😉, I’m in. I have done so in the past and surprisingly watched the style become a trend later. Maybe I was a trendsetter in my own way and my intuition led me to it before it came to be. Thanks for all the info. 😉

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    1. I do get what you mean. It happens to me so often too. For example, I am a big fan of mix and match. I have been for many years, long before it became trendy. Same with chocker. I’ve made a few for myself when I was a teenager! I think you are right it’s relate to our intuition. We should always listen to our intuition even as we grow older. Thank you for your beautiful comment Margit. Take care.

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  13. I am so in need of a make over form you! My “natural” look means I have workout clothes on, my face has been washed and I am probably heading to a mountain somewhere 🙂 Not good!

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    1. I would never do a make over of your wardrobe. Your clothing fits perfectly with your life style witch is healthy and reflect your passion about nature. All you need are a few outfits and essentiel items for work and special occasions. I might do a post about clothing and outdoor activities. Thanks for inspiring me!

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  14. Great and informative article, Dominique! I love bold patterns and look forward to this year’s spring fashion – although spring only lasts about 2 weeks around here, we have winter most of the time and then suddenly it’s summer! Lol! 😄
    Love the Buddha quote – it’s so true! 💚

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    1. Hi Sarah. I luvvvvvv mix and match as well! I’m having so much fun right now planning my spring wardrobe. I often joke about Quebec’s weather. Here there are three seasons: Fall, Winter and Spring. Summer last only two weeks so it does not count. 😄 BTW, I was in the metro the other day and I was thinking of you and your train stations project. You would enjoy taking photographs of ours. Montreal metro stations, particularly Champ-de-Mars, are repeatedly ranked among the world’s most beautiful stations. The one close to my home features a huge round vertical shaft that feeds oodles of light into the station, which is characterized by clay wall tiles, and granite floors and benches. You would love it!

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    2. Hi Dominique! Thanks so much for telling me about the Montreal metro stations! You definitely made me want to go to there and see them for myself!!! But I have to admit that I´m much too curious now to wait for this occasion to happen, so I will cheat a little and see if I can find some lovely pictures of them online 😉 Or maybe you could just make some pictures yourself and share them with us?? I would so love to see them! 😀 Have a fabulous Sunday, mon amie! ❤

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    3. There are a few pics available on the Web. I like your idea though. I could try to do my next fashion shoot in metro stations (not obvious as there might be too many people). But it could be visually very interesting. Thanks for the idea!

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    4. From what I saw, the metro stations look really cool and artsy! It would be awesome if you would do a shooting there! Best time for deserted train stations is either very, very early or late 😉 Hope you´ll do it! I would so much love to see the combination of wonderful architecture and awesome fashion! xoxo ❤

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    5. You’ve got me very motivated now! Oh, I would love to do this project WITH you… If you ever come in Montreal please let me know. I’ll take you to secret places that are not mentioned in tourist’s guides. xoxo

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    1. Hello Martina! So happy to hear from you. I’m recovering and getting better every day, almost as good as new. Thanks so much for your comment. Happy weekend to you too. 😄

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  17. Love this! Being ourself, not forcing anything, going with the flow and embracing change, just like nature, all wonderful concepts that I so agree with. Thanks for the inspiration. xo 🙂

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    1. I know… You and I seem to have a very similar way of seing the world. Sometime I read you and I think “Hey, I could of wrote that!” 😉 Thanks for your comment Miriam.

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    1. Thanks for visiting my site and for your lovely comment. Welcome to my world. I have visited yours. Very nice blog you have! I saw that you are also a journalist… Very happy to meet you! 😊

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  19. Comme j’aime cette publication! Une belle façon pour moi de renouer avec la sphère internet que j’ai délaissée depuis un moment. Il fait bon de découvrir un texte, ma fois, OSÉ, dans un blog de mode. J’aime cette audace que tu as de sortir des sentiers battus et de faire réfléchir “coûte que coûte”. La mode, vue de cette perspective philosophique et intello devient un défi au quotidien ! Merci, on en veut encore.

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    1. Ha, un gros merci Imelda pour ton gentil commentaire. Il y a un certain temps en effet que j’ai eu le plaisir de ta visite. Je m’ennuyais de toi! J’espère que tout va bien de ton côté. Au plaisir de te revoir bientôt. Bise xoxo

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  20. La preuve de la très grande qualité de tes publications se voit immédiatement dans la qualité de tes fidèles abonnés! Je ne parle évidemment pas de moi;) C’est à en devenir accro ce blog! Mais surtout: prends grand soin de toi et prends du temps et du temps et du temps …pour toi… Il n’y a rien qu’une Dominique

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  25. Such a valid argument, I think a lot of people who aren’t into fashion write runway shows off as something they don’t “get” because they can’t ever imagine wearing the pieces shown, when really all they’re missing is the point you’ve just highlighted!

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    2. No problem it’s great I love the fact you encourage diversity and for people to express themselves through fashion, after all it is a form of art, one that is sadly under appreciated I feel

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    1. Thank you Tashnee for your lovely and kind words. BTW since you started calling me 3C many have follow you! It is my new nickname and I like it very much. 💕 You know you have my deepest respect as well, right? Have a beautiful week my friend.

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  33. Thanks for a really inspiring read, so well written too. Yes to using looks as an inspiration to create your own personal style, or take on a trend. That’s one of my favourite quotes from Buddha too. Look forward to reading more 🙂

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  35. What a great post! I think fashion now is great but if I had to pick from a decade I’d pick the 50’s… I actually just wrote about that, I hop you’ll check it out 🙂

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  36. Very well said! I too encourage others to wear what they want instead of what’s on trend. I also realized that people watching gets a bit boring when everyone wears the same thing. I’d love to see more originality on the streets!

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    1. Love your idea Cathi! I have not forgotten you dear friend. In fact, one of the questions you asked when you nominated me for the Sunshine Blogger Award inspired me to write a post… Soon to be publish with acknowledgement to you. Here’s a link to my blog as you asked: https://3cstyle.com/
      😊

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  43. This is a very refreshing take on today’s fashion. I completely agree that a lot of fashion is becoming more about the visual shock factor than wearability. You see this on many runways, with models sporting crazy accessories and clothing you wouldn’t see on a person walking down the street. Take Moschino for example – who sent out two of their models who had full body paint, blue and green, in their Fall/Winter 2018/19 runway collection. And Valentino who had long flouncy feathery hats drooping over the models’ faces in their Spring/Summer 2018 collection.

    Fashion IS supposed to inspire people, and people often feel like they have to own/look like the brands seen on runways, which is not the case. Instead of spending your life savings to own a label, I say, get creative and customize your wardrobe yourself. I personally watch fashion shows to get inspired and then design and create what I would genuinely wear myself.

    Great post!

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