Is Fashion Still Important?
Is Fashion Still Important?
by Marly Bobillier Grosso
We woke up recently to the news that another icon in the fashion world, André Leon Talley, had passed away. His death has left a huge void in that world of larger-than-life figures, and one that will not be filled anytime soon. I enjoyed his work and absolutely loved his impeccable style and passion for beautiful things to wear. He innately knew how to wear “it” well.
This got me thinking about the importance of fashion and its relevance in the world today. Fashion, after all, has always been a creative outlet for me and a way of life for many in this multi-billion-dollar industry. Yet, as the pandemic has taken hold of every thought in our collective psyche, we’ve turned our attention away from such apparent superficiality—the latest trends, the current design darlings. These past two years have been filled with awful headlines, fear, sadness, and isolation.
Thinking about fashion and dressing up has felt like a frivolous activity of the past. Now, dressing for work, going to the supermarket, and even date night have been taken over by carefree looks. Casual attire has become more the norm. Less and less drama has occurred in front of the mirror, too, since many of us have been working from home. Vanity has been left in the rearview mirror and reality has slapped the art of dressing right out of our minds.
Most of our favorite go-to pieces are now made with stretch fabrics. Sweatshirt ensembles have become part of our every day. I’ve never had pieces that fit into this category before, let-alone a real pair of sneakers, and yet I find myself thinking about my appearance more now than at any time in my so-called fashionable life. Enough of leggings and slouchy sweatshirts, I’m ready to express my style and fashion sense once again, even if I have nowhere in particular to go.
I’m suddenly feeling the urge to dress well again. I want to take some of my favorite pieces out of the closet and dust them off. Style is a state of mind after all, and the need to feel like myself once again has come on strong. I’ve been missing that feeling of confidence that comes with dressing well and, like so many, I’m feeling the need to peel off this shroud of sadness and isolation we have all felt under the pandemic. I want to get back to feeling and looking like my old self and sharing it with the world, even if it is just my immediate surroundings.
My personal style and go-to pieces have always included dress pants, blouses, and actual dresses that show my preference for detail, smart cuts, and innovative weaves. Fashion and creativity seem to be the saving graces I need right now. It seems we all need to dream again, create again, and feel better. I’m looking forward once more to playing with lengths, colors, and textures.
Enough of black puffers and parkas! Here’s to wool camel coats, leather pants, and angled fedoras. I’m finding new joy in taking mental inventory of my closet, too, and of planning future outfits and pairing a long dress shirt with cut-off jeans or black wide leg pants and a beaded top. Pulling together different accessories and wearing them around the house has also been a treat.
Fabulous shoes have not made their appearance yet since the weather still calls for snow, and heavy winter boots need to be within arm’s reach. When I have to go outside at all, I’ll grab easy slip-ons and keep my fuzzy socks on. These are fashionable must-haves in our home that help keep our floors clean, too.
So, with this in mind, I’m wearing a fabulous silver sequined, drawstring skirt paired with a new grey-wool, crew-neck sweater from Banana Republic. 
I accessorized this little combo with a large silver cuff, a black link plastic bracelet, and an awesomely large, flower lapel pin made of wool felt. I feel great, and even though we were blanketed with a few inches of snow overnight and are definitely staying in today, I’m sparkling from within.
So, here’s to celebrating fashion and the importance of it in our lives. Here’s to André Leon Talley and to feeling great. Let us begin to move forward, even if it’s just one outfit at a time and just for ourselves.
Photo by Marly Grosso.
