FASHION
From Issue #18
Are You Stylish or Trendy?
Canadian fashion gurus draw the line
by Liane Beam Wansbrough
Uggs, an Australian luxury brand of
sheepskin footwear, may be all the rage.
But Canada’s top fashion designers agree:
they’re a perfect example of trend versus style.
“Uggs are the big thing so a trendy person will go out
and buy them whether they look good or not. Stylish
people won’t do that,” says Toronto-based designer
Sunny Choi.
If you wear (or covet) a pair of Uggs and you’re
starting to feel like a fashion victim, take heart.
According to Brian Bailey, one of Canada’s most well
known designers, trendy can be fun. “Brooches are
trendy right now and if you put one on it helps you
feel current with what’s going on in the fashion world
today. But a trendy piece is not something that’s
going to last forever.”
The fleeting nature of trends means they’re only
around for a season or two. Military jackets, knee
socks and super short skirts are all examples of trends
that have passed. Rory Lindo, one of the designers
behind the label Damzels in this Dress, says
“Celebrities, movies and magazines have a big
influence on trends. Take that movie ‘Mean Girls,’ that
started the trend with the really short skirt with the
crinoline underneath,” she says.
The influence of media on fashion means that trends
come and go quickly. Trendy celebrities like
Paris Hilton, Jennifer Lopez and Jessica Simpson
popularize a certain look. It becomes fashionable fast
but then gets old just as fast. “In the past you didn’t
have the same perception of what was happening in
the world. Now if you watch MTV and Britney Spears
wears a certain top in a video clip you can be sure that
all the teenagers will be asking for it the next day,”
says Christian Bagnoud, director of marketing for
H&M Canada.
With everyone vying for the same looks, trendy
clothes are very much a part of the mainstream.
For Montreal designer, Philippe Dubuc, fashion
becomes style when it’s individualistic. “I have always
thought of fashion in an individual way. But when you
are a teenager, individuality is something that’s hard
because you want to be part of a group. If you really
want to dress your own way it can be difficult to be
accepted,” Dubuc says.
Putting your own personal stamp on fashion
takes self-confidence. Stylish people have a good
sense of themselves and they project positive
body language. David Bowie, Nicole Kidman and
Madonna are all stylish, although Madonna is
both trendy and stylish.
“Someone once said that fashion is what you’re
offered. Style is what you choose. Stylish people
know themselves and what’s right for them,”
says Jeanne Beker, star of Fashion Television
and editor-in-chief of FQ Magazine. “They choose
to dress in what they feel good in and what
they adore. A trendy person simply follows
the crowd.”
While stylish people do pay attention to trends,
they don’t just copy what they see in a fashion
magazine. Stylish people are not afraid to mix
designer labels with second hand and discount
clothing. The television show ‘Sex in the City’
started a lot of trends because the Sarah Jessica
Parker character had a lot of style. She mixed
clothes that weren’t necessarily in or out
of fashion.
“Trendy people want to show off their designer
labels and logos. It’s very important for them
to establish 
themselves in a certain social
milieu,” Dubuc says. In contrast, stylish people
might wear designer clothes but they will wear
them casually.
To some extent, stylish people are born with
their fashion sense. “It’s like a radar,” Choi says.
Style icons like Audrey Hepburn and Jackie
Kennedy are examples of people with an innate
sense of style.
These days you can express your style in
different ways according to your mood on
a particular day. Seeking out second hand
clothes and combing the racks of discount
shops make take some time, but it’s a
great way to create a personal look
without spending a lot of money.
“I’ve seen wealthy people wear expensive
designer clothes and they still didn’t
manage to pull it off. I’ve also seen
people buy from thrift shops and have
a great sense of fit, style and attitude.
Money helps but it’s not the be all end
all,” says Franco Mirabelli, a Toronto
designer.
With all the options available, you can
be adventurous with fashion. “Try to
seek out imaginative ways to make
your style voice heard,” Beker says.
“For example, vintage dressing really
allows people the opportunity to
dress in a unique way. It’s always
inspiring to look for unusual
accessories and not subscribe to merely
donning what’s hot right now.”
And what if you make a mistake and end
up looking silly? Don’t worry about it —
the mistakes are half the fun. Besides,
your friends will probably think that you
did it on purpose. You might even start
a new trend.
Visit the Casual Winter Fashion Spread from this issue
