Is it Cool to Clash?
We’ve been told by society that certain patterns and colors shouldn’t be worn together. So, why is it that certain fashion icons make them look so chic? Recently I’ve binge watched all six seasons of Sex and the City, where main character and fictional fashion icon Carrie Bradshaw doesn’t hold back when it comes to unique outfits. From elegant ‘90s silk slips to pinstripe pant suits to a Vivienne Westwood wedding gown, Carrie wears it all– including outfits that one might say clash. I was watching an episode last week where Bradshaw wore a rainbow plaid pantaloon set; I originally would’ve considered it to be one of the ugliest outfits I’ve ever seen, yet it surprisingly grew on me by the time the credits started rolling. This got me thinking: is it cool to clash, or are fashion icons just exempt from society’s criticisms?
Even though she mixed polka dots and plaid, brown and black, as well as other fashion “no-no’s” Sarah Jessica Parker’s role as Carrie Bradshaw put her on the radar of the fashion world. Despite some of the show’s questionable ensembles, she was and still is considered a style god. A more current, non-fictional example of how celebrities can overrule fashion rules is Bella Hadid. Not only is she the current muse of the industry, but her personal style is seen as nothing short of iconic. Yet, some of her ‘fits coincide with the same situation as Bradshaw’s: they technically clash. An example of this that came to mind was when Hadid was photographed wearing a camouflage baby tee with a plaid puffer; if I wore this on campus, people would probably think I’m crazy, but when Hadid wears it, it gets published on Vogue.com the next day.
While celebrities get away with out-of-the-ordinary outfits, I find that, as a non-famous college student, taking fashion risks can be daunting at times. At a college flooded with thousands of students, I’ve noticed my own personal style has shifted to “safer” options. I used to pull out all the stops for my school wardrobe growing up, leaving the house in chunky shoes, fur hats, and vibrant colors. Yet, there’s something about the possibility of being judged by a lecture hall of 300 people versus a high school classroom of 30. As a result, my go-to effortless outfit has been matching sets, something I never really started wearing until now. Recently, after watching a show with characters dedicated to wearing bold outfits on the streets of New York, I realized that I want to find my way back to my old wardrobe, back to taking risks and not caring about what society thinks.
This proposed another question in my mind: does confidence exempt one from clashing? If clashing is truly just a social construct that celebrities are exempt from, then why can’t the average college student be exempt from it as well? Living in Berkeley, it feels like Cal students adhere to an unspoken dress code: sweatpants for class, jeans and tiny tops for parties, and barely any chances to wear high heels. I often feel that if I take fashion risks in ordinary college settings, people will think I’m “overdressed,” or “trying too hard”. But after almost two years of college, I’ve realized that there’s nothing wrong with that.
So, the next time you’re unsure about a new style you’re trying, or a new outfit you’ve never worn, I say: wear it! If Bella Hadid and Carrie Bradshaw can wear whatever they want, so can we.
