Trend Spotting / Cool Hunting Report - KFB103 A1

A/W 14/15

Fantastical Folk: “Zen-like”

Sarah Young, barista

We are redefining history and spirituality – everything from what we choose to eat and do, to what we choose to wear. The coming season is less about refining and more about redefining (WGSNa, 2013). The diversity amongst religion in particular is rapidity changing; many people are no longer considering themselves attached to one set of beliefs and values, but rather many – identifying as only “spiritual beings” (Pew, 2012).  Colours such as peacock, madder red, mauve, orange and yellow will be king in embracing the “Zen-like” lifestyle look (WGSNb, 2013). Sarah’s outfit is a perfect representation of the coming 14/15, A/W fantastical folk / Zen-like attire. Her Indian prayer beads and handcrafted traditional Jaipuri shoes are on mark for what is to come in embracing other cultures, and going beyond to make sense of the 21^st Century.

Already, our entertainment has taken a turn in following the recent folklore trend. Television and movie productions are reestablishing and redefining what were once our favourite story time tales as children, and warping them into a darkened plot. ABC’s latest hit, Once Upon a Time, tells the stories the usual popular fairytales – but with an epic twist (After Ellen, 2012). Also a post-apocalyptic theme is becoming popular with the growing fascination with death amongst our cultural, represented through The Walking Dead or The Hunger Games (Pappas, 2012). So look forward to many heroic tales and a maybe a happy ending. 

REFERENCE LIST

After Ellen. Anne, Valerie. September 27, 2012. "Once Upon A Time": Season 1 crash course (for incoming and returning      

                students)” Accessed March 20, 2013. http://www.afterellen.com/content/2012/09/once-upon-time-season-1- 

                crash-course-incoming-and-returning-students

Living Science. Pappas, Stephanie. November 20, 2012. “Doom and Gloom: Top 10 

Post-Apocalyptic Worlds”. Accessed March 20, 2013.

http://www.livescience.com/24920-post-apocalyptic-worlds.html

Pew Forum. October 9, 2012. “‘Nones’ on the Rise”.

Accessed March 20, 2013.
http://www.pewforum.org/unaffiliated/nones-on-the-rise.aspx

WGSNa. Lohan, Sally. February 12, 2013. “A/W 14/15 Consumer

Forecast” Accessed March 20, 2013.
http://www.wgsn.com.ezp01.library.qut.edu.au/content/report/Think_Tank/Consumer_Forecast/Autumn_Winter_2014_15/a_w_14_15_consumer_forecast.html?cq_ck=1360776862205.html

WGSNb. Keating, Sandra. March 19, 2013. “Fantastical Folk: A/W 

14/15 women's print & graphics” Accessed March 20, 2013.

http://www.wgsn.com.ezp01.library.qut.edu.au/content/report/Design_Direction/Print_and_Graphics/AW_14_15/Womens/fantastical_folk_womens.html?cb=136435213618360000

Young, Sarah. Image. March 20, 2013. Botanical Gardens, Brisbane.

Rendering Reality: “Multiple Identities”

Kirk Radunz, full-time fabulous

Well this dashing young man caught my attention whilst I was prowling through Brisbane’s main shopping mall. He was ever so humble when agreeing to these photographs after I explain what they were for. Immediately after striking a pose, Mr. Radunz began to explain in detail the reasoning behind his choice of clothing. His sole influence being living vicariously. Having so many different social platforms to live your life on, it can be difficult to stick with just one personality when you have the option for many. How to solve that problem you ask? You obviously don’t stick with one persona, you have multiple – e.g. Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter. Being a self-proclaimed “antisocialist”, Mr. Radunz finds freedom of expression in reality within his styling – which just so happens to correlate with the predicted 14/15 semi formal styles.

Lets start with his backpack. Originally, it was only a t-shirt – but the design of the bag itself can be used in multiple ways, adding carrying appeal to a simplistic outfit (WGSNa, 2013). Next to his collar; A/W 14/15 we will see a more reserved and refined look to collar shapes themselves, but with more so focusing on the placement of pockets and colour-blocking with contrasting elements (such as said backpack!) (WGSNb, 2013). Drake’s London & Fred Perry have recently been exploring micro-patterned buttondown collars for this coming trend (Coles, 2012) – such design depicted above. As for the vibrant splash of colour, there will be a transition into blue tones, flag reds and sand browns – specifically within men’s jeans / dress pants (Belgium, 2012). 

REFERENCE LIST

Radunz, Kirk. Image. March 21, 2013. CBD, Brisbane.

Louis Frames. Belgium, Louis. August 2012. “New Trend Colours Up to

2014” Accessed March 21, 2013.

http://www.louis-frames.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/artikel-ENG.pdf

 Top Grain. Coles, Mattew. November 20, 2012. “Micro-Patterned

Buttondown” Accessed March 21, 2013.

http://topgrain.co.uk/tag/drakes/

 WGSNa. Accessories Team. February 04, 2013. “Formal Backpack”

Accessed March 21, 2013. http://www.wgsn.com/content/report/Design_Direction/Accessories/Autumn_Winter_2014_15/aw13_14_men_s_bags_keyitems.html 

 WGSNb. Menswear Team. March 18, 2013. “A/W 14/15 menswear: shirts

key details” Accessed March 21, 2013.

http://www.wgsn.com/content/report/Design_Direction/Menswear/2014_Winter/AW14_15_menswear_Shirts_key_details.html

Industrial Evolution: “Organic Prototypes"

Shyanne Trutwein, design student

Androgyny and fashion: the evolving trend (Braukämper, 2013). Only recently androgynous dress has slipped into the grips of trending fashion. Androgyny can range from a purely aesthetic description to one more deeply rooted in one's identity – which is great! Regardless, prior to this upcoming trend, both men and women who dressed in this style either had to tolerate bullying or zero choice of genderless clothing (McClary, Leepson 2013). That is until now.

With the Hobo Fedora hat and men’s styled – well – everything, androgyny is in (WGSNa,b). Vogue even went so far as to publish a high-class fashion shoot dedicated to androgyny – with just a dash of lesbianism – go Vogue (Vogue, 2013)! But this isn’t one trend to be scoffed at. Living in the 21^st Century and still having to face the issue of bullying due to ones identity – whether it is narrowed down to gender, sexual preference, race, religion, age, anything really, discrimination is not cool. So that fact such a previously “taboo” issue is trending (in a positive light!) – it deeply reflects the changing social system amongst us. Even style.com predict, “Menswear-inspired everything, especially shoes" (2013). Do you know what that means? Guess it’s time to start running all you homophobic bigots because the fashion fundamentalists are coming to trample you down.

REFERENCE LIST

Androgynous Style. Latimer, Shanika. February 23, 2013. “Style Saturday:

Androgyny Meets High Fashion” Accessed on March 23, 2013.

http://www.androgynousstyle.com/2013/02/style-saturday-androgyny-meets-high.html

Fashionising. Braukämper, Tania. March 14, 2013. “Androgyny and fashion:  the evolving trend.” Accessed on March 23, 2013.

http://www.fashionising.com/trends/b--androgyny-androgynous-fashion-22284.html

           

Huffington. McClary, Jenny / Leepson, Alie. March 07, 2013. “Androgynous

Women Need Clothes Too!” Accessed on March 23, 2013

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jenny-mcclary/veer-nyc_b_2825914.html

Style. 2012.  “More Pre-Fall Trends” Accessed on March 23, 2013.

http://www.style.com/trendsshopping/trendreport/012113_Pre_Fall_Trends/

Trutwein, Shyanne. Image. March 28, 2013. Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane.

WGSNa. WGSN Accessories Team.  March 20, 2013. “A/W 14/15

accessories: women's key items” Accessed on March 23, 2013.

http://www.wgsn.com/content/report/Design_Direction/Accessories/Autumn_Winter_2014_15/womens_accessorieskeyshapes.html

WGSNb. WGSN Accessories Team.  March 20, 2013. “A/W 14/15

accessories: women's key items” Accessed on March 23, 2013.

http://www.wgsn.com/content/report/Design_Direction/Accessories/Autumn_Winter_2014_15/womens_accessorieskeyshapes.html