Okay everyone we need to be honest for a second, when you’re watching a runway show, it’s so so easy to look at the exaggerated proportions and think “Who the hell is actually wearing this?” The dramatic staging, and the over-the-top styling makes high fashion feel like it belongs in a museum rather than clothing you’d wear to class or hang out with friends. But underneath all that theatrical drama is an incredibly passionate, close-knit community that lives for decoding these intense designer concepts and bringing them to everyday styles. For the rest of the semester, my blog will focus on the everyday fashion discourse community, a combination of stylists, buyers, commentators, and fashion enthusiasts who can make high fashion feel approachable and fun, but most importantly, wearable for everyone.
Image by: Versace https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2022/12/11236033/fashion-style-aesthetics-2023-list
When you look at the definition of a discourse community, it’s described as a group of people who share common goals, special vocabulary, special communication methods, and different levels of expertise. This fashion space fits that definition to a T! The primary goal is simplifying high fashion and taking intimidating runway concepts and breaking them down into effortless outfits. There are lots of digital spaces and platforms like Tag Walk and fashion commentary places like Paper Magazine , there are also lots of TikTok trend breakdown posts and lots of Pinterest moodboards. Together, there is a constant analysis of fashion online, ranging from runway trend reports and critique to personal style breakdowns and guides that pair runway looks with affordable alternatives.
Runway Concept vs. Real World
To really understand how this community operates, you have to examine how communication happens and what is valued. There is an entire own language in the fashion world, constantly looking at silhouettes, fabrics, and drapes while also distinguishing between haute couture and ready to wear.
Image by: https://ayerhsmagazine.com/2019/10/21/90s-chanelthe-most-iconic-runway-moments-by-karl-lagerfeld/
The unspoken golden rule in this space is that taking a look inspiration isn’t about copying it piece for piece. It’s all about deconstruction, isolating one strong element from a collection, like a layering trick or a specific shade of blue, and balancing it out with your own touches. At it’s core, this community is driven by inclusivity and making fashion feel accessible no matter your budget or lifestyle. Over the next few weeks, I’m thrilled to dive deeper into how this community uses visual and written language to unravel high fashion artistry and help us turn these major runway inspiration into our own personal style! 🙂
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