Fashion: Fresh Faces (opinion)

London’s streets are some of the most inspiring in the world for fashion. The city writes what we wear. I always find my next trend, my next get-up from the people and places of London; but never had I expected this autumn to be taking style-writes from fashion’s teens: the 13-17 year olds are ruling the streets. When did everyone get so darn cool, so darn young? Queuing up for American Apparel’s flea market last month, the fashion-followers lining the pavements seemed so much younger, so much cooler, delivering bang-on looks. Disheveled oversized t-shirts paired with hole-scratched tights and Creepers, from the grungy-90s to the Barbour-clad lot; the little-ones are raking in the style-points.

It’s not their astute threads that scare me; it’s the thought processes, the knowledge behind them. The influx of young bloggers, look across the web – it’s not just Style Rookie anymore (Tavi Gevinson started Style Rookie way back when she was 11, now she’s a well-respected asset to the industry).

Fashion in the UK is constantly driven by youth – especially in the UK. The teenager’s attitude to fashion is far more free, experimentation isn’t feared because there’s not job, there’s no style that can tie you down. Each and everyone of us explored and found our style identity through our teenage years. This early self-confidence of style excites the fashion industry, they’re the fresh-faces that are bringing something new to familiar attire whether it be an attitude, opinion or look.

Get on Youtube even and see for yourself. Back in 2006 young Michelle Phan took to the website to show-off her unique beauty-style, now she’s reached over one million subscribers. Viewers of all ages are tuning in to learn off those new to the scene.

Where should we gain our style inspiration from? Should it be  girls like Tavi and Michelle? Or should we look to the ladies that have been in fashion longer, those established fashionistas? Who knows, whatever your opinion the young ones are certainly doing ‘something’ right.