Design Perspective: Dress Like a Child
Please note: this article was originally published in Spanish for issue 83 of Petit Style Magazine.
A shift in perspective opens up a world of inspiration. This February, we visited the Canary Island of Fuerteventura to refuel our creative energy. The island’s vibe provided a stark contrast against our home of Leeds, UK. The sunshine and warmth contributed to a carefree attitude. Locals and tourists seemed relaxed and at ease to express themselves. Or, maybe it was noticeable because I was hyper-vigilant due to novel surroundings and my eye for design. The important thing is we noticed the individuality.
Illustration by: Buttercrumble
Independent boutiques brimming with beautifully curated fashion and homewares lined the streets. Coffee shops and bars were full of friendly faces. There were surfers catching waves and skaters shredding roads. There was a true joie de vivre in the air.
We live in a world where homogenisation is a real danger. There are the same brands of shops in every precinct and every mall — fashion becomes boring and expected. When this happens, how can we develop personal style? We need to loosen up! Our vacation taught us at least this.
It’s fun to dress up. For instance, if a child dresses themself instead of by their caregiver, they are driven by their intuition. They adopt carefreenesses where items don’t need to match perfectly. They play and enjoy fashion. It’s a tool for self-expression!
Children experiment, whereas many of us adopt the adulthood uniform. This is more so for “city slickers” stuck in a fast 9-5 routine. Whereas, our visit to the coastal towns of the Canaries felt different. There is a slower pace, so the fashion is more relaxed. It’s considered and feels stylish, yet unique. There’s a refreshing youthful energy.
Fashion’s blandness is exasperated by micro trends where people are turning to fast fashion to achieve the latest curated looks to fit in. The trends relapse so rapidly that shoppers want to keep up without spending a fortune. Meanwhile, last week’s hot dress ends up in a landfill.
In reality, micro trends are repackaged styles that appear in waves driven by social media. From “Y2K” and “Cottagecore”, it provides a template for us to mould our appearances around. However, just because I want to wear Dr Martens with fishnet tights doesn’t make me “Grungecore”. Specific aesthetics should dictate our personalities.
That said, I don’t want to dismiss micro trends! Trends do have a place. They can provide a spark of inspiration that leads to further experimentation. We must pick our favourite elements, invest in quality and give secondhand items a chance. Mix and match statement pieces with wardrobe basics to find new, unexpected combinations that make you smile. You’ll rediscover what you love (or hate) through playful trial and error, just as our kids do.
You will prevent yourself from being you when you seek validation from trends. Instead, relax. Embrace your individuality and forget about judgment. Sometimes, we may be awkward, but that's beautiful because it's real. It's an important lesson to learn.
Within the creative industries, we must remember to dress and style people, not just bodies. It’s crucial to broaden our horizons and experience new places and people to develop our unique flair. Why not mix things up and dress like the child within? There’s joy to be had!
