Call me an over-analyzer if you like, but I look at a lot of fashion.  Particularly that which is on the runway, and my focus is one of a global perspective. I have always found it fascinating that New York fashion trends are similar to Paris and Milan.  Naturally we expect to see a common theme every season.  We are conditioned to expect a certain color to be popular or a particular styling to be used a lot on the runway. Usually, these garments do not end up as a retail favorite until we are inundated with celebrities and commercials telling us that this is the new “look” and we are not hip if we don’t comply.  I can’t even go into an Old Navy without being reminded that I am out of style! But lately in fashion, I have been surprised by what we are expected to spend our hard earned money on. Frankly, I have been considering taking a sewing class, going to the nearest JOANN’s, and purchasing some patterns. My mom used to make my clothes when I was a child and I had my pick of any pattern. My mom took my measurements and made my dress, pants, shorts, cape, etc.  In fact, whatever she sewed on her Singer sewing machine fit me perfectly.

I would like to draw your attention to Indonesia. Why? Because I was just looking at the current winter collection on the runway and I noticed something. Fashion cloning is becoming the big trend. What do I mean by that? It seems like an assembly line of precut styles made specifically for the purpose of shocking.  But if everything looks the same, it’s hardly outrageous.

I have seen some things that blew my mind. I’ve talked about these things in the print issues. (Guess you have to buy one to keep up.) But honestly, Gucci disappointed me when I observed a model holding her head in her arm as she walked the runway — clearly her cloned head.  Of course this is completely conceptual but bizarrely disturbing nonetheless.  I guess we’ve watched enough zombie and vampire movies to become desensitized to what television and movies are bombarding us with on a daily basis that now even our fashion runways represent the most sinister themes. Thank you Alexander McQueen.

Back to Indonesia – How did they get the fashion report?  After all they are on a completely different continent. Was this new “look” discussed and decided upon at the last Bildebergers get together?  Individuality in fashion design rarely gets published or reported on . . . now that’s real free expression. Small communities who have their fashion shows, the occasional atelier, and maybe those independent online boutiques. Let’s not forget Etsy. Fashion lately has shocked with its clothing, styling, and even models. Models used to be pretty, now they are interesting to look at – not at all usual.

Large skulls on women with broad shoulders, and beyond waif-like physiques. It’s surprising to me that the trend of “individuality” is moving in reverse. The last few years, the models have looked goth. Too pale, too thin, to androgynous. Your average person does not look like that.  Yet once again, the push to condition us to believe that we need to look like the ads. For the new generation of girls, it is frightening.  I thought I had body image issues when I was a teen!  To the credit of the designers, stylists, runway producers, dressers, makeup and hair teams, and many many more that are involved in the hive that creates our trends, they do a superior job of putting it all together. But let’s face it, this monopoly of fashion makers have made it difficult to reject their creations. Yes, their clothes are stunning but what message are they sending when we discover that our choices have dwindled to only what they sell in retail outlets.

And sometimes . . . they DO get it right! Check out these looks on the runways of Jakarta, Indonesia. (Jakarta Fashion Week 2019 in Senayan City, Jakarta, Photo: Getty Images.)