Some things are designed to stand the test of time – destined to move through and with the ages with nuanced adaptations, all the while remaining very much a mainstay. Fringing is one of these things.
When I think of icons synonymous with fringing, my mind flits between the Charleston of the roaring 1920s à la ‘flappers’ in the Great Gatsby, to sun-drenched, muddy festivals, complete with the laissez-faire attitude of Kate Moss circa 2005 – a case in point of its staying power. And SS19 reaffirmed that it’s very much alive ‘n’ kicking, with a rich display across the board.
More ‘focal point’ than ‘finishing detail’, these modern day tassels have a mind of their own – adorning looks in more ways than you knew possible, swishing in the wind with happy abandon given half a chance.
In London, Natasa Cagalj and her mostly female-led design team at Ports 1961 proved to be far from shy on the fringing front, with their offering – that prided itself on “a spirit of women together” – seeing it take centre stage (whether worn over a look, or serving as the entire basis for a look) in a handful of standout styles that simultaneously nailed the brief of being what women truly want to wear.
Later on in Paris, Simon Porte Jacquemus too followed suit, but in a display that traipsed between beach-to-bar, with oversized straw bags in tow. (I'm touting them as aptly fit for the shores of the French or Italian Rivieras... Take your pick!) Meanwhile, across town, Joseph Altuzarra mastered beach babe-ready in a collection that offered feelings of optimism through tasseled crochet separates and dresses adorned with thousands of little shells.
Tassels entered going “out, out” territory in New York, with Oscar de la Renta and AREA weaving them in wherever humanly possible. The former’s Laura Kim and Fernando Garcia looked to their summer holidays – respectively, Morocco and India – for silhouette reference points, and accentuated sari-like sarong-style wraps, dresses, tops, earrings and bags (I wasn’t exaggerating when I said “wherever possible”) with swishy silk fringe aplenty. Piotrek Panszczyk and Beckett Fogg of AREA, on the other hand, looked past summer holidays and instead to the Czech artist and inventor, Libuše Niklová – credited with inventing the first inflatable toys for kids in the 1960s – as a muse for their SS19 offering that favoured metallics and neons. Fringing brought a panache to the "occasionwear" looks that they've become known and loved for in their three years – be it in a similar vein to Ports 1961, with a slip-on-and-go sheet of fringing, or an added layer of texture to separates à la Oscar de la Renta.
All in all, if there were ever a time to embrace a fringe party, it’s shimmying its way towards us this spring!
From eveningwear to homeware, start your fringe affair here:
Also on Because Magazine:
+ A healthy serving of bohemia and fearlessness is what you'll get with this New York brand.
+ Abigail Gurney-Read makes a case for why the trench is one of those key pieces in a wardrobe that everybody should own.
+ Refresh your coffee table reading with Val Garland's tome, 'Validated'.
