Why Fashion Backward?

Why Fashion Backward? It's a play on the oft-used phrase "fashion-forward", which describes anyone who is innovative and creative in the world of fashion. Those go-getters. Those celebrities, models, designers, ingenues, and socialites who set the trends of which the rest of us plebes can only construct pale reproductions.

So why fashion backward? Because I am. I'm a fashion student who hates most of contemporary fashion. I generally dislike most couture. I laugh at fashion bloggers. I turn up my nose at mixing patterns, odd silhouettes, weird pairings, and most other things. Rompers and jumpsuits make me cringe. Extensive floral patterns make me nauseous. The tribal trend makes me roll my eyes, and 80% of Forever 21's website offerings make me laugh out loud, and think "God, who would EVER wear that?"

"So what DO you like, you picky, pretenious girl," you might ask. I like the classics. My preferred runways aren't New York Fashion Week, they're the Oscar red carpet, where the gowns are flowy, sparkly new takes on classic pieces. My favourite designers aren't Chanel and Louis Vuitton, they're Elie Saab and Marchesa. I don't want to see something avant-garde and futuristic, I want to see a really beautifully draped Grecian gown, or a perfect cocktail dress paired with gorgeous shoes and a great clutch. I don't like something that looks uncomfortable or awkward, I like clothes that look like the wearer was born to wear them, because they perfectly fit not only her/his body, but their sense of style and their attitude.

Fashion Backward. Some might call it girl-next-door. Some might call it classic. Some might even say it's boring and outdated, or uninspired and unadventurous. But I like clothes to look like clothes: if you're going to wear something ugly, you might as well just go naked.