WHAT IS FASHION FATALE?

Whether it be from a discount bin at a T.J Maxx store or a one of a kind couture Versace gown, every garment has a story. Every garment is important. I distinctly remember learning this at the age of ten from what I believe to be one of the most iconic monologues in film history. ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ was released in 2006 and told the story of an ambitious journalist Andy (Anne Hathaway) who lands a job as the assistant of Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), the editor-in-chief of a prestigious high fashion magazine. The monologue I am talking about occurs when Andy laughs at Miranda Priestly as she struggles to decide between two belts that seem to be almost identical.

Frustrated by this, Miranda picks on the blue sweater Andy is wearing saying “You go to your closet and you select that lumpy, loose sweater, for instance, because you’re trying to tell the world that you take yourself too seriously to care about what you put on your back, but what you don’t know is that that sweater is not just blue. It’s not turquoise. It’s not lapis. It’s actually cerulean.”

But that’s not the important part. She continues by effortlessly (and impressively) referencing fashion collections from years ago that featured cerulean gowns and military jackets and then explains how after this, cerulean began popping up in many other designers’ collections. She then says, “it filtered down through department stores, and then trickled on down onto some tragic Casual Corner where you no doubt fished it out of some clearance bin. However, that blue represents millions of dollars and countless jobs, and its sort of comical how you think you made a choice that exempts you from the fashion industry when, in fact, you’re wearing a sweater that was selected for you by the people in this room from a pile of stuff.” 

You’re probably wondering why this is so important? Well, the moment I heard Miranda Priestly unleash on her assistant, a passion for fashion and the world surrounding it awoke within me. Particularly a passion for high fashion and the glitz and glamour of it all.

But as important and impactful the world of high fashion is, without it’s exposure by influential people it would be a dead end. We are introduced to new styles and trends every season, but the ones that stick tend to start at the top of the fashion food-chain with celebrities, influencers and others who are a part of popular culture.

The pieces of art we see on the runways and on the seemingly endless and vibrant red carpets at celebrity events are often mesmerizing, but are hardly wearable in every day life. Imagine showing up to the grocery store sporting Katy Perry’s 2018 Met Gala look of huge feathered wings and a blinding gold mini-dress and matching thigh-high boots… You wouldn’t (I hope). But you are more likely to carry a gold beaded Guess wallet or wear a Forever21 lamé puffer jacket which could have been inspired by Katy Perry’s look.

And that is what this blog is all about. At Fashion Fatale we acknowledge not only the influence of celebrities and high-fashion designers in the industry but also everything in-between. Fashion is an industry of collaboration. Of influence and inspiration. It has its own circle of life, and is a house of cards where not a single element can be overlooked or under-appreciated.

So here we are. Stick with Fashion Fatale and we promise to keep you up to speed with current fashion styles and trends, whether it be Golden Globes gowns or street style sneakers, and the fabulous fashionistas who are dominating and wowing the world of fashion.

See you soon!

Erin McLachlan

P.S. Here is the monologue I was rambling about… Enjoy!