You’ve probably noticed that every September issue on the stands is heralding the death of print and embellishment this season. The editors agree that Balmainia era clothes – defined by sharp shoulders, sequins, and unforgiving bodycon – were designed primarily to suit the girls who modelled them on the catwalks – fawn-legged six footers who’ve barely finished puberty.
The return of real clothes – comfortable, uncomplicated and (this is the clincher) made for grownup women with boobs, hips and a bum – has been welcomed universally.
I’ve always been fascinated by the way sartorial trends simultaneously equate to a specific fashionable body shape. This season bust-ruffles at Prada have marked the renaissance of our love affair with cleavage. Not 90s Wonderbra cleavage – it’s different and more modern somehow – but something which is possibly just as blatant (Blake Lively’s Preen number caused quite a furore back in July, though I quite liked it myself.)
It’s refreshing to get some respite from what has been a definite legs phase in fashion, though I fear we’ll probably see demand for breast augmentations (already the most popular cosmetic procedure in the UK) skyrocket.
Hmmm…cleavage, are we glad it’s back?
