What's "In" in 2010?

Many fashion shows have occurred this spring that allow the fashion world to see just how the trends will evolve for the season coming up. There has been much talk about 2010s fashion: has it changed, is anything new, or can we recycle what is in our closets?

Sara Glassman, writer for the Star Tribune (Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota area), used “valley-girl” language in her lead of the article “An ‘anything’ spring for fashion.” Her lead starts out with the sentence, “Fashion trends are so last year.” This sentence is used often in the fashion world to describe what style is no longer in style, for example, “Polka dots were so last year.” This way of speaking is often thought of valley-girlish, pretty much making the speaker sound clueless to anything else around her. The word “so” emphasizes that fashion mind set of a valley-girl, as well as “fad,” another word that was used in the article. I do not think this language is the official language of fashion, but when thinking of fashion, the rich, valley girl is a popular image.  The writer may show a little humor in that area, making fun of the valley girl.  Glassman also uses the word "you" a couple of times.  She uses it in a way that suggests "you" have an opinion on what you wear.  For example, she writes, "Now you can invest in pieces that you love and know that you'll wear them more than one fleeting season."  In the previous sentence, the word "you" helps the reader feel that repeating fashions is acceptable for the upcoming season because "you" like them.  It is all about "you," which helps emphasize the point at the beginning of the article that "the biggest trend for the season is actually whatever you want it to be."  Glassman comments in her article by using parentheses. She comments on a fashion trend in this sentence: “It’s a cry from even 2006, when every designer seemed to design some form of trapeze or sack dress (though those are now long gone).” This comment was made to inform the reader of something coincidental: “…said Adam Glassman, creative director at O, The Oprah Magazine (and no relation to yours truly)." She also uses parentheses to emphasize her point that all of the experts believe that there is no new trend by saying, “(Is there an echo?).” Speaking of experts, Glassman uses an abundance of quotes from people like Adam Glassman, Eugenia Kim (accessories designer), Sacha Martin (co-owner of Bluebird Boutique), Jinny Krogman (buyer for Pumpz & Co.), and Aisha Ghanchi (owner of Belle Reve Boutique). Even though these people are not the actual fashion designers, they are very active in the fashion world and pay close attention to trends. Most of the people quoted in her article are local to Minneapolis and St. Paul, so the only outlets from the area Glassman explores is by getting the opinion of Adam Glassman, Rebecca Taylor (a fashion designer), and Janell Geason (an Aveda makeup artist).  Glassman concludes her article with tips from many of the above mentioned and a few more people in the fashion industry. The areas that are commented on are romantic blouses, animal prints, nude shoes, denim leggings, bronzer, and graphic prints. All of these trends are seen to be continual for the 2010 season.

An animal print jersey T-shirt by Rebecca Taylor.

Melissa Magsaysay would beg to differ that there are trends surfacing this year in her response to a Los Angeles Times reader labeled, “Your stylist: The truth about this season’s tie-dye trend.” Magsaysay says that tie-dye is in this year, with Proenza Schouler leading the way. She uses conversational language, but more in the style of giving advice. It seems as if she is talking to the person who wrote her the question about tie-dye, almost walking her through the trends that tie-dye can be worn with and how to wear it. Magsaysay also uses the word "you" in her article, which is a response to a letter.  Even though her "yous" refer to the writer of the letter, it also can be seen as directed to anyone who is reading the article.  "You" is used to assure the audience that it is okay to wear tie-dye, and it is equivalently used to help ease your worries.  Her style of writing brings out imagery as she describes colors and shapes, almost as if the reader is walking through a clothing store with her. For example, she writes, "try this navy T-shirt with a simple white tie-dye pattern...great with slim, cropped white jeans and brown sandals or just thrown over a bikini."  Even though the shirt is pictured with the article, the jeans, sandals, and bikini are not, which gives the reader a chance to picture this outfit in their minds.  Magsaysay focuses on the reader’s concern about looking too kiddy in tie-dye by giving her alternative colors in tie-dye and combinations to wear.

Left: Photo from the Proenza Schouler Spring/Summer fashion show. Right: A bag by Rebecca Minkoff.

Even though Glassman’s way of writing allows her to incorporate her comments in the articles, I like Magsaysay’s way of writing better. I like the way she uses imagery to help the reader grasp this idea of how the style should look. I would like to take my readers on a journey, like Magsaysay did, to keep their attention and spark their interest about the subject. I do like the fact that Glassman’s choice of words went along with the topic of fashion. It is important that I pay attention to the different types of language used for certain subjects and topics to make sure that my audience can feel that connection while reading.  I understand that fashion is universal, so unlike Glassman, I would try to get the majority of my information from experts that are not from my local area, but from a number of other locations.  This way, I can get a wider perspective on the subject, instead of a local one.