The fashion Kitsch factor is set to high this fall with the appearance of the ’80s motif sweatshirt. If only we’d have kept the unicorn one we wore with our super-sprayed, teased bangs!
Style trendsetters such as Anna Dello Russo and Michelle Harper have been seen in loud, in-your-face sweatshirts that look like they’re from the thrift store, but in reality, they’re straight from the runways. And this blast from the past doesn’t come cheap either. A Balenciaga one will easily set you back a month’s rent/mortgage payment.
As always, runway trickles down to reality, so if you’re keen on a touch of Kitsch, you’ll have plenty of options.
Phillip Lim pulled iconic imagery from pop artist Roy Lichtenstein, taking his comic-inspired work and slapping in onto sweatshirts. A pair feature his “Crying Girl” painting and some feature the artist’s “Ka-Pow” motif (other items from the collection include smaller leather goods, crossbody bags and T-shirts). They’ve become a style-blogger go-to, but bigger names and Tommy Ton’s favorites opt for Balenciaga’s spin on the trend. The house’s Nicholas Ghesquiere put pictures that looked as if they were pulled straight from ’80s arcade games onto exaggerated sweatshirts. Instead of the gym-class silhouette, he added leather accents, waist-cinching ruffles and oversize sleeves along with slouched shoulders. His high-fashion mashup garnered rave reviews from the fashion crowd, and with the cheerful images, we can see why.
Another label that embraced the trend was Kenzo, which has been an editor and blogger favorite since its revamp with Opening Ceremony’s Humerto Leon and Carol Lim. We get instant Le Tigre fever when we see the tiger-face sweatshirt which is available in an array of colors and maintains the boxy, slouchy sweatshirt shape. Street style photographers have snapped it on its own, but more often it’s accompanied by piles of jewelry and even louder accessories. It seems that when your sweater is so loud that good taste goes out the window, you have even more license to embellish.
If straight-from-the-runway looks are out of your budget, mark your calendar for December 1, when the Proenza Schouler for Target + Neiman Marcus Holiday sweater will debut. It features a swirling graffiti motif that’s also available on an iPad case, but we’re certain that it’ll be spotted fashion’s heaviest hitters from December first through Christmas. And here’s a tip for you: Skip the women’s apparel area of your Target if you’re looking for this covetable coverup, because it’s in the Men’s and Boy’s section. Now you can snag it without working up a sweat.
Photos courtesy Vogue.com, Net-a-Porter and Target