Collective reflection to discuss pretense in fashion, pretentious or pretentious clothes that wear certain clothes…
In the past week, in my indiscriminate walk through blogs of moda, trends, theory or even tumblr loaded with gossip gifs; I came across a post that made me stop to reflect. A young man proudly wore a Christopher Kane t-shirt on a traditional street in less luxurious Marbella under the emblem "Fresh like me". It's about Pelayo Díaz, renowned international fashion blogger and designer who has risen to fame thanks to his blog Kate Loves Me.
Bueno, you will say, it's not so bad. It's just about the great blogger trick of relocating garments to surprise us, mix churras with merinas, create new trends, take us from Marbella to Memphis in a pee – pas and that we think that they are the most of the most. Untill there, all clear meridian. But my mind wouldn't stop spinning, not only around the photo but in part of the accompanying text:
"It is a magical and inspiring place. So I thought my new Christopher Kane T-shirt would go really well with the city vibe by being zero pretentious and fun with a Memphis twist."
At that moment, a spark lit in my brain and I couldn't stop rethinking myself: ¿What is it that makes this kid – is supposed to be an expert in fashion for working both inside and outside of it – say that garment is not pretentious? (Independent, out of curiosity, I have looked for it on the internet and it is worth 230€). My mind couldn't stop questioning: ¿What is a pretentious garment? ¿How is this claim valued??
I went quickly to the RAE:
pretentious -sa. ‘Presumptuous or pretending to be more than it is’ and 'having or implying excessive claims'. / presumptuous, to. 1. adj. Full of conceit and pride. U. t. c. s. 1. adj. That pretends to pass for very elegant or luxurious. U. t. c. s. – Royal Spanish Academy.
¿what do they think?
To focus it, i decided ask one serie of people I respect and admire within the field of fashion, and that they let me know their opinion about it by sending them the following question: “¿What is a pretentious garment? ¿Why?”.
"Probably some Louboutin type shoes, or the style, with 15cm heel, triple platform and pink patent leather that you will never be able to wear or you will be very uncomfortable despite the 800€ What do they cost?. – Diana of By por Dior.
“A pretentious garment is one that tries to imitate high-end garments with cuts, much superior fabrics and / or flourishes. That everything can be cloned, but there are certain clones that cry out to heaven. I think there are really no pretentious clothes if not pretentious brands that sell smoke; or that there is a gulf between your product and communication. Y, por supuesto, pretentious people who make everything they wear look pretentious. ¡Strutting when actually the clothes lead to them! – Leticia a.k.a CatyShark from Aragon de Los Fashionpedist.
“¿pretentious? one Love and I can not, a garment with linings that wrinkle, a clone of those from Amancio” – Rachel Gratistotal.
“A pretentious garment is not an Inditex or H&M, since they are very clear about their objective: sell the trend already imposed. But what is extremely pretentious is seeing collections of designers (supposedly) consecrated that are an authentic copy (even though they call it inspiration) of things that we have already seen in, por ejemplo, Dior, Versace, Chanel… En resumen: A pretentious garment or collection is one that claims to have a series of added values and that, finalmente, turns out to be a Zara or H&M but at much higher prices ". – Arthur Gil Bordes from Sadofashionista.
"Fashion itself is pretentious… when clothing loses the simple function of sheltering and protecting us. At the moment when fashion is something external and capable of communicating messages, it becomes a thrown weapon for ostentation. I don't think there are pretentious clothes in themselves, if not people who pretend to flaunt things with them… A fashionably pretentious attitude is to be inconsistent with the context in which you live. – Begoña Antón.
“In some documentaries about gardening that Audrey Hepburn made at the end of her life, I learned a quote. George Washington, who was a great fan of gardening, said that there are no weeds in gardens., just plants in the wrong place. Fashion, as a creative activity, has the ability to generate all kinds of garments and clothing with the most diverse shapes and ornaments. From minimalism to the most absolute baroque, any garment can be pretentious out of place. There is no worse feeling than going to an event where you notice that you are overdressed. Pretentious were the party heels tied with an oversized tie at the back at the ankles with which Leti attended the opening of a sporting event a few years ago. And pretentious are also the Spanish actors who confuse their Protestant ideology with stepping on a red carpet (although the Spanish color blindness the ringworm of green) with jeans or sneakers or the absence of a tie. I live convinced that it is not usually the garment that is pretentious if not us using it when we should not, And I think that this belief of mine is to blame for the RAE, which defines pretentious as the quality of wanting to be more than what one is.. – Paco Delgado.
¿what do i think?
I consider that the pretense resides in the swagger, o no, that there is on the part of the person. There are people who reflect a clear intention to be or appear more than necessary through their attire. I also consider that there are clearly pretentious garments due to their quality ratio. / design and cost, always protected by the "marquitis".
In the case of Pelayo I think it refers to the garment, even being a great designer – and I suppose that of great quality – does not reflect those “values”, since it is shown in a more natural and fun way, what makes it "fit"” to walk the streets of classic Marbella. What I do find a bit pretentious is the comment itself, sounds like: "Hey friends, that I could go with whatever I wanted but I decided to jump off the bike and choose this very simple Kane shirt to ride around town because we are all zero pretentious”. Maybe I am very bad thinking…
En resumen
What we can conclude from all this is:
1. one Love and I can not, a clone, a useless garment despite its price, the “high standing” gifts” without really being, are clear examples that IF there is pretentious clothing as such.
2. Además, It is usually the person himself who manages to reinforce that claim in the garment – or create it – with your attitude or gesture.
Now I only have to ask you
¿What do you consider pretentious in fashion?? ¿It can be a pretentious garment for its simple cost? ¿Do you think that Pelayo is pretentious?? ¿You think Kane is pretentious? ¿Do you think Marbella is pretentious?? ¿Is this a pretentious post? ¿I will have the blogger syndrome of asking everything?
This boy in himself seems pretentious to me. Go a mess, as it always goes, it is much simpler and more ‘chic’ If among everything you wear you far exceed the 1000 euros. And what could be more pretentious than expressing with your style «look how horrible I'm going, but how expensive is everything that I carry »?
And I'm not a fashion connoisseur or expert, but I've always thought that this boy wears "expensive", which does not mean that I dress "well".
But anyway, as tastes there are colors…
Very good post, Yes sir.. and great the opinions of all the participants.
I completely agree with some of the opinions, but above all with that of Arthur Gil.
From my point of view something that is pretentious consists neither more nor less than to pretend, that's why I disagree with Raquel from Gratistotal, And it is that certain pieces of Chanel can be more pretentious than the shits of Amancio.
Fashion itself is pretentious when we go out of full functionality.
Flour from another sack is Pelayo Díaz being in my opinion the definition of pretentious person.
I believe that a garment can be pretentious because of its simple cost if it is not proportional to its real value.
Example: skull McQueen scarf € 300. A simple printed scarf with an absurd price tag.
And of course I also think that Pelayo is pretentious. She thinks she looks fashionable for wearing outfits worth thousands of euros. The day you upload a ticket and succeed because of how well you do and not because of what you spend; it will have the merit it deserves. Town Hick Syndrome With Money You Dressed As D&G.. This is how I see it.
Greetings and a very good post!