Fashion

[shemp]

They just plain hate everybody. They never design anything that real people would wear.

[Witness]

They just plain hate everybody. They never design anything that real people would wear.

It's not made to be worn, just shown once.

[Abdul Alhazred]

So while the fashion designers do indeed design the fashions that end up in stores, the "fashion show" is really a ritual humiliation show to amuse rich people who like that sort of thing.

[Witness]

↑ Hadn't thought of the humiliation aspect, but yes: young beautiful people in ridiculous garbs having to ritually parade in front of rich old hags and their courts (press included).

But I think there are two types of clothes designers. A handful of famous ones who sell to the happy few (and not what they design for the shows), and basic grunts working for the usual shops/brands/chains who have to keep an eye on materials, availability and costs.

The whole process from design to display racks has its mysteries. A girl I know who has a small clothes shop near a ski station told me she has to make her choices with sales representatives a year or even a year and a half before the actual season, so the cut/model/style choices have already been made. Factor in that somebody somewhere has to buy the cloth at best price, have it dyed in the soon to be fashionable colors, then cut, sewn, packaged, distributed, advertised, &c.

Makes for a very skeptical look on the spontaneity and freedom – dare i say empowerment – of "street fashion", no?

[Anaxagoras]

The £7,500 dress that does not exist

Earlier this year Richard Ma, the chief executive of San Francisco-based security company Quantstamp, spent $9,500 (£7,500) on a dress for his wife.

That is a lot of money for a dress, particularly when it does not exist, at least not in a physical form.

Instead it was a digital dress, designed by fashion house The Fabricant, rendered on to an image of Richard's wife, Mary Ren, which can then be used on social media.

"It's definitely very expensive, but it's also like an investment," Mr Ma says.

He explains that he and his wife don't usually buy expensive clothing, but he wanted this piece because he thinks it has long-term value.

"In 10 years time everybody will be 'wearing' digital fashion. It's a unique memento. It's a sign of the times."

Ms Ren has shared the image on her personal Facebook page, and via WeChat, but opted not to post it on a more public platform.

Digital collection

Another fashion house designing for the digital space is Carlings. The Scandinavian company released a digital street wear collection, starting at around £9 ($11), last October.

It "sold out" within a month.

"It sounds kinda stupid to say we 'sold out', which is theoretically impossible when you work with a digital collection because you can create as many as you want," explains Ronny Mikalsen, Carlings' brand director.

"We had set a limit on the amount of products we were going to produce to make it a bit more special.

Being digital-only allows designers to create items that can push boundaries of extravagance or possibilities.

[Abdul Alhazred]

The rich are different.

[Anaxagoras]

Yeah: they have more money.

[Giz]

They just plain hate everybody. They never design anything that real people would wear.

It's not made to be worn, just shown once.

I wanted an outfit that would express who I really am. I chose ‘doormat’.

[Witness]

[Fid]

Well he seems delighted for this opportunity to display the hours spent in the gym sculpting all those god like boy parts.

[Giz]

I’m thinking clown, Eskimo, bankrobber: now make me an outfit!

[Abdul Alhazred]

... clown, Eskimo, bankrobber ...

Rejected roles for the Village People.

[Witness]

[Giz]

Pink hat? Should have been red MAGA hat. Their attempt at controversial is failing.

[Anaxagoras]

Made me giggle involuntarily. I'm pretty sure that's the point. It's a joke. Inspired by Humpty Dumpty maybe?

[Witness]

↑ I'd have to see a crowd laughing at one of their ceremonies…

---

[Fid]

Wonder what the reaction would be if he stuck some big red lips on that.

[Witness]

[Giz]

Jesus, get her a cheeseburger stat!

[Witness]