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To describe a woman as merely ‘pretty’ is to tread a perilous path. Prettiness has become synonymous with bland superficiality, a description used when there is nothing else unique or unusual to draw admiring glances, the most basic and grudging of compliments and ultimately achievable through well applied eye-liner and lip gloss. In short, it suggests a lack of individuality and a reliance on the safety of ‘niceness’.
Admittedly, fashion has done ‘pretty’ no recent favours; fierce heels, skinny jeans and jackets with shoulders like Helipads have created an overtly rebellious figure of chains and spikes, rips and shreds. ‘Pretty’ has stood no chance against this urban warrior who would eat chiffons and lace for breakfast and maul an assistant for lunch.
Despite such adverse circumstances, ‘pretty’ is being hailed in as this season's look, with the February Vogue waxing lyrical on ‘pastels’, ‘femininity’ and most depressingly ‘flounces’. Surely I am not the only one to pine for the heavy rock-chic black of winter? It sculpted, emphasised and subtly eroticised the wearer, creating a woman in charge of herself and her sexuality. After all, why must feminine mean ‘flounce’?
Naturally this is not advocating compiling a wardrobe suggestive of dominatrix tendencies. Aside from the obvious complications, it would be a highly inappropriate range of fabrics for the warmer months. However, approaching ‘pretty’ with the same caution one might reserve for Morrison’s own Frozen Scampi is advisable. No one wants to look like a French Fancy and so it is imperative not to give oneself up to ‘prettiness’ entirely.
By bringing an element of the urban warrior to an otherwise unashamedly frivolous outfit will sharpen and vitalise a spring/summer look. The addition, for example, of a black patent leather waist belt with a floaty, floral dress will create definition and interest. Combine with patent flats in a toning shade from the dress and ‘pretty’ has been successfully anaesthetised. The use of patent accessories rather than matte will keep the look sharp and fresh, and creates great contrast with a feminine material.
These same principles of using differing textures and colours simultaneously results in a wardrobe of greater use and longevity. The ubiquitous black tuxedo jacket, worn by every well dressed woman at the end of last year, looked fabulous with skin tight jeans and a well cut shirt. However, it has a new lease of life worn with a gypsy skirt and camisole. As it stands, ‘pretty’ is bland and unoriginal, but it can be used as a base with which to create an interesting and unique combination of clothes.
Experimenting freely with shapes and textures has the potential to massively increase your wardrobe’s wearability. A black leather bomber jacket over a maxi-dress, a summer dress with a velvet blazer, patent belts, leather boots; these items work together, making ‘pretty’ interesting. Fashion has decreed that this summer will be ‘pretty’, but that does not mean that we must abandon our inner glamazon. By giving ‘pretty’ a harder edge it becomes directional and not ditzy, interesting, and above all, individual.
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