Current Trend: Gothic Noir

The Spring/Summer 2020 trend story which I have been given is Gothic Noir. After thoroughly thinking about the trend title, I refined what the trend connotes to me personally. I created a Pinterest page to collate all the visual connotations and it consists of: big old-fashioned gowns, darkness, lace, gothic architecture, mesh fabrics, lingerie, haunted forests, pleats, chunky leather boots, ruffles, harnesses, intricate detailing and more.

When I began reading/viewing recent trend predictions for 2020, I noticed three stand-out links to my initial connotations. These were: androgynous tailored suits including corsets and waistcoats, ruffles/pleats/layers/mesh merged together, and underwear worn as outerwear – with a focus on corsets and mesh.

All I kept relating these trends to was the Victorian Era. The Victorian period was between the 1840s – 1890s. The fashion statements within this era were impractical and uncomfortable yet always looked beautiful and extremely fashionable. I enjoyed looking into the impractical items and came across two stand-out pieces; the bustle dresses/skirts and corsets.

From researching history and debates, I chose to focus on corsets and their changing symbolisation; once signifying oppression and suffering in the eyes of fashion, to now empowering women of all shapes and sizes. The change shifted in the 1970s when the likes of Vivienne Westwood pushed a new era of underwear as outerwear.

Spotted at the recent shows for Vera Wang, Thierry Mugler and Burberry (to name a few), it is evident that corsets aren’t going anywhere, and will continue to be a tool to shift ideas around sexuality and self-expression.

Below is a moodboard of the trend story, based entirely on primary images taken in New York:

Darkess, frills, puffs, ruffles, lace, leather, silhouettes, gothic architecture, fog/mist, cityscape, neon lights, monochrome, cinched waists } all noticed, all relevant.

Mia

xo