Internet users who also want to dress like their favourite stars, heroes or idols find themselves exploring inspirations on social media that are as extravagant as they are eccentric. Undoubtedly, these looks can be aesthetically appealing, but they’re often difficult to wear on a daily basis.
The phenomenon has grown in recent months, demonstrating the power of social networks when it comes to inspiring the biggest fashion designers.
The corset gets refreshed
The 19th-century London high society seen in “Bridgerton”, as well as the retro aesthetics of the Queen Elizabeth II biopic “The Crown”, have given rise to some surprising trends in recent months, bringing back to the forefront historical pieces that no one would have imagined wearing in 2022.
First is the corset, the once-essential womenswear piece that fell into disuse when designers liberated women’s bodies with much less restrictive clothing.
These two television series have put the corset back in the spotlight, to the extent that the global search engine Lyst reported a 123% increase in searches for corsets just one month after “Bridgerton” screened.
It seems women were (in theory) ready to revive one of the most oppressive pieces their wardrobe has ever seen. On the catwalks, fashion houses like Weinsanto, Acne Studios or Mugler, also raised the corset to the rank of womenswear star, while celebrities like Lourdes Leon, Saweetie, Halle Berry and Lizzo did not hesitate to show it off on stage and on the red carpet, as well as on social networks.
But while the corset has a strong presence on Instagram and TikTok, it is more difficult to spot in the street or in the subway – for good reason. It is not necessarily the corset in its original form that has returned to fashion, but a range of clothing inspired by the said piece.
A symbol of emancipation and self-affirmation, rather than constraint, its 2022 version lands with decorative lacing effects, as well as lingerie pieces inspired by this creation that dates back to the Spanish court.
So don’t expect to see your coworkers, or your boss, coming to work wearing a corset as you might have nearly a century ago.
Long gloves, the invisible micro-trend
“Bridgerton” and “The Crown” have also given rise to a passion for long gloves – the kind of evening gloves, also called opera gloves, worn by Audrey Hepburn or Marilyn Monroe in the 1940s to the ’60s.
The height of fashion at the time, along with long evening dresses, these had never really resurfaced until now. It’s understandable – the jeans/shirt combo with opera gloves probably isn’t the easiest look to wear.
And yet, global search engine Stylight observed a 153% increase in clicks for opera gloves at the beginning of the year, while the hashtag #operagloves has reached more than 500,000 views on TikTok, a social network favoured by younger users.
Here, too, the trend has been embraced by the biggest luxury fashion houses, such as Elie Saab and Valentino, but also by world-famous stars such as Sydney Sweeney, Beyoncé, and Millie Bobby Brown.
Yet no trace of long gloves can be found in real life, one of endless commutes, long weeks, school runs and grocery shopping. In this world – far from the gemstones, sequins and red carpet events – long gloves simply have no place, like empire-waist dresses, leather mittens (here’s looking at you, “Emily in Paris”), or feather or pearl headbands.
These micro-trends keep coming thick and fast in various shapes and forms, but ultimately they only really seem suitable – and intended – for the kind of world frequented by stars and celebrities. Or, of course, for social media, where everything seems possible.