Paris Fashion Week is over, which means autumn winter 18’s trends are now set in stone. One of the last to emerge is also one of the least likely but by far the most amusing.
Now you’ve heard of layering - the act of stylishly adding item on top of item for both function and fashion purposes. Now, this is that, but on speed. President Trump’s former crony and chief strategist Steve Bannon would be the best person to advise on this incoming trend, and in lieu of him, Joey from Friends would also be a knowledge.
Last year in an attempt to make light of the current political predicament, the media became transfixed on Bannon’s penchant for wearing multiple shirts at once. The Breitbart News chairman was rarely seen without at least two button-down tops and a t-shirt at any one time. It instantly recalled that episode of Friends where Joey wears all of Chandler's clothes.
Evidently, the ludicrous image of the red-faced repugnant Republican stayed in the minds of PFW’s top tier of designers. If fashion is a magnifying glass of reality, this is the ultimate subversion of the politico-elite. For Denma Gvasalia, the punkish creative director Balenciaga showed models weighed down by couture-proportioned coats plumped up by layers of jackets and cardigans underneath. Similarly, Thom Browne showed models restricted by stiff layers of blazers and Y/Project made the case for multiple dressing gowns at once. Likewise, Sacai rolled out the multi-coat look. However, they forsook the bulk by patch working different outerwear pieces together.
When this many labels unknowingly tap into an unlikely trend it’s almost a dead cert that it will break through into the mainstream. We’d put money on the fact that Zara’s finding a way to fashion this look on the cheap right at this very moment. While it's ever so practical for those inter seasons when it's too cold outside for just a cardigan and too warm indoors for lots of layers, we're not looking forward to experiencing rush hour public transport dressed like an over-fed fashion victim.
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.