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| The Gap's Fall 2014 Normcore Campaign via Refinery 29 |
I'd like to start off this article by saying that normcore is different from minimalism: Céline does minimalist chic while Gap is attempting to capitalize on the normcore trend.
However the roots of normcore were planted before Gap attempted to put celebrities in plain black pants in mundane life tasks. When you look at the NY Times article "The New Normal" it pictures a collage of slogan tees, baseball caps, and New Balance sneakers. Does this mean the shirt my boyfriend got in his pack of beer is now fashionable? The article defines normcore as such:
Normcore (noun) 1. A fashion movement, c. 2014, in which scruffy young urbanites swear off the tired street-style clichés of the last decade — skinny jeans, wallet chains, flannel shirts — in favor of a less-ironic (but still pretty ironic) embrace of bland, suburban anti-fashion attire. (See Jeans, mom. Sneakers, white.)
Some people do mix the high and low well, it's a great chance to show your personality while still emulating effortless style that street photographers love to photograph and we love to consume but I must admit I find the new normcore trend a bit boring and I see this trajectory of fashion becoming lazy.
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| Gap capitalizes on the NY Times article |
I don't necessarily want to see normcore on the runways or in ads and magazine editorials because there is no craftsmanship, to me there is nothing about it that offers escapism from the mundane and allows for me to transcend this realm.
It could all be a matter of opinion and I prefer well constructed pieces that accentuate my body and allow me to look put together at work or out with friends at a new restaurant.
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| Céline Spring 2015 RTW via Photo: Monica Feudi |
I believe there is a time and a place for normcore, I'll wear that beer box shirt to the gym over a pair of leggings or those slip on sandals by the pool because I don't think those events need that much effort. However, you will never catch me in anything Jerry Seinfeld would wear; according to the NY Time article the popular comedian's outfits worn during the golden-age of Seinfeld are said to be leading the way with this trend.
The term was coined by a trend-forecasting group K-Hole, who have said in their manifesto that normcore is not really a trend but more of an attitude that flips the last few years of fashion on its head. Apparently we are all tired of wearing skinny jeans and overdressing and would like nothing more than to revert back to the fashion of the early-90s. The article ends on a poignant but rather-harsh statement: "Are they ahead [of the] fashion curve? Hopelessly behind [it]? The first question is whether they are on their way to a job whipping up absinthe-infused cocktails at Freemans, or grilling bacon-Cheddar burgers at TGI Friday’s."
Now you could agree or disagree with me but the world of fashion is attracted to shiny new things and there is nothing shiny or new about normcore. Consider this, if we all wanted to dress in white tees and plain ill-fitting pieces wouldn't we all shop at one store? Unfortunately I don't think the billion dollar fashion industry could survive off of that. I see normcore as nothing more than a current fad and an attitude that may lend itself well to certain areas of life however designers, real designers, are fueled by creativity and although not every piece of clothing needs to be expensive or over-the-top, even the most simplistic of designs still attempt to create an experience for the person wearing the item.
