Can you believe this?!
I just learned that this "trend" exists too. Seems as though, I have been in a bit of a absence from the fashion world last few weeks and missed the coronation of the latest new trend - dressing normal.
Now, the definition of normal is so relative these days. It is so relative that defining it makes the defining it self - redundant in a way. People have "developed", grown and thrived through centuries in so many ways that normality as a term of describing behaviors specific for our society has, well, changed. Drastically. And that in a way is the beauty of it.
On one side we have society's permission to wear what we find normal for us, without the fear of being labeled in some negative way. But on the other side, we have a constant pressure to be original, different and new. That pressure can, at times, be overwhelming. Both for society and individual.
Even though the society has granted us premission to have our own "normal", it seems like in the end it doesn`t accept us if our normal is not the new normal. Usually it is just some plain, boring normal without any style. The fashion world is searching for the next new thing, the next new "normal" relentlessly and as it seems they have hit a road block in terms of trends. BIG NEW TRENDS.
Fashion repeats it self, just like history. And it is no wonder that this world, our world, in terms of fashion needs a course of repetition. It needs to blow some steam off. It is fed up of all the running all the time, of painstakingly searching for something else in the world where most of the thing have been invented, found, tried and lived. It is hard to be and stay original.
So, the only thing left is to re-invent. What is the better way than to forge a new name for an old trend. Which is not a trend itself at all. Something that was once frowned upon by "fashion people" is now celebrated as a next new trend. OH the IRONY!
I find this amusing and silly, ingenious and a bit snobbish. But the silver linning is - it will give me the opportunity to be fashionable when I am not even trying. Talking about this makes me think of terms "fashionable" and "stylish", well... you don`t need to be trendy to be stylish.
After this rather long introduction, I present you with next new trend -
NORMCORE. Inspired by miss
Chelsea.
Even more ironical is that in wikipedia,
normcore is defined as anti-fashion. I laughed so hard. Right, so anti-fashion.
The new term refers to understated, nondescript style. It encompasses the desire to fit in rather than stand out.
But still, it is fashion. Just maybe not so loud. Keelping low profile, not standing out is just its current philosophy and societal position. When this gets out (Vogue is already talking about it, so its just the matter of time) it will become mainstream, which means bye-bye anti-anything and understatement and hello world. The silliest thing in wiki description is the part how nomcore is a response to hipster subculture. Funny, how it is opposed to hipsters but it lies on same grounds. I can`t wait where this will end up. Can`t stop laughing.
But, seriously though, I like this new trend.
Sports socks, high waisted trousers and beanies are all considered 'Normcore' items.
Correct me if I am wrong, but weren`t beanies a huge trend few years back?
Seriously, dude?
Honestly, I don`t give a rats ass (pardon my french) about what is cool, not cool, in or out, trend or my biggest faux pass in the history of bad taste. Its just hilarious how staying under the radar, being unpretentious and with "identity" for some people nowadays means creating a new trend that advocates totally opposite values. Hypocrite, much?
I don˙t know if I maybe misunderstood all of this, what normcore really is, but I think that having a need to stand out from standing out is, well - standing out. "I like the idea that one doesn't need their clothes to make a statement." - and this right there, that move, that sentence is in fact a STATEMENT! And the way you dress to not dress, the way you are not making a statement with your appereance - you are making a statement.
To be honest, I didn`t think that this topic will lead me here and that post of this proportions will be made.
Chelsea inspired me, and the more I gave it thought, more I realized how exactly I felt about it.
My version of normcore is maybe not so true normcore at all... but since the philosophy of normcore is simplicity and our own identity, I guess, I can`t go wrong, right?
I cannot help but wonder (totally channeling my inner Carrie), if this second outfit collage really is normcore? By what I can see posted all over internet - it is not. Normcore seems to be a certain trend with defining set of "rules" of what to wear to be normcore. Certain wardrobe staples make your look more or less normcore, and they are very distinctive. If you try to build your normcore outfit following their philosophy early described with few quotes (remember those words - unpretentious, laid back, not caring ... etc.) I don`t think my second pick is anywhere near normcore. Although it is simple, comfy, casual and laid back, it still doesn`t follow those defining rules that make someone normcore. And since this trend has very distinctive and defining set of rules that make its essence, it is far far from being unpretentious. If you really don`t care, then, dude - don`t care.
Stop wearing Nike, Birkenstocks, NB or whatever and buy friggin` walmart stuff for 10 $.
End of story.
Finally, in the end, what is my take on this? Yay or nay? Honestly, yes. To a certain point. What I am trying to say is, I like the casual sense of this trend. Just put some clothes on and go on your merry way. And that is it. The rest, so called philosophy - I would prefer hipsters. They seem a bit less hypocrite about it all.
To see how much normcore, or at all, are you, take
this quiz.
