Fashion is for everyone, young and old. The only proviso is that for kids it’s the parents who call the shots. And with fashion it’s all about the ‘tude. It’s not always what you wear, it’s how you wear it, man. Style over substance is often a criticism levelled at the industry particularly at the catwalk side. The impractical nature of fashion often gets me down; it’s like being sold a lie. This flamboyant, exuberant showiness may be great to look at but it’s like eating candy floss; mainly air that leaves a sickly, sugary taste in your mouth. I find that reputations of cities are very similar. Think of the American metropolises, the bright lights, the noise and the ‘front’. With both, there is a reputation to live up to and sometimes I think that there is too much emphasis on the ‘show’ and not what’s really important. Just look at the lifestyles, the cars and the people’s behaviour. When I last visited the States I took advantage of Las Vegas car hire and toured the area. Believe me, I was grateful to leave the bright lights behind.
Fashion for teens has always had a rebellious edge. As kids struggle to find their own identity in a world of adults they often lash out at the ‘establishment’. Now there is a growing trend toward kids and ‘fierce fashion’. Think eight years olds looking like Johnny Rotten and you get the idea. If the thought unnerves you, I’ll start this the pictures off nice and slowly.
Don’t forget that kids don’t have to be teenagers to have – how can I say it – a fractious nature?
From the Fierce Hugs collection, sold by GrowsUp, comes the hint of things to come.
The next few images were shot by Franck Malthiery for Catimini’s 2011 winter collection. If you’ve never heard of the marque, don’t worry about the name’s uncanny similarity to the word ‘catamite’, it’s actually a French word that translates as ‘sly or cunning’.
With more than a generous nod to ‘Cowboys and Indians’, who would have thought that knitted jumpers were coming back into fashion?
For those of you interested in the locations of model shoots, this was filmed in Paris; well on Paris, the rooftops to be exact.
Ed Hardy is famous for his tattoo designs and these are now making their way onto his own range of designer clothing. Word on the street has it that his work makes glam rock segue into hip-hop. This next top is one of the child-sized garments with the fierce ‘Love Kills Slowly’ emblazoned on the iconic skull and crossbones motif.
These next images are from Amy Guip’s gallery. Fascination with youth culture, artists often use children as their muse. Kids are an emotive subject and can hark back to the viewer’s own childhood or resonate with issues that their kids may be facing today.
This first kid is showing a lot of attitude with his punk hair and tattooed body. The faux naval uniform carries with it a subtle undercurrent (pun intended).
In modern western society, kids are often thought of as innocent. This is not an assumption held worldwide as there are many cases in guerrilla warfare and street fighting where it’s the kids, not adults, you need to be more wary of. This child carries off ‘The Clockwork Orange’ look with eerie ease.
And finally…
So much for the gentler sex! This young lady has steely blue-grey eyes and an expression that makes you feel quite uneasy.
Guest blogger, Greg Coltman, writes fashion and beauty articles and is always one to express his views on the latest trends.
