Since it’s now officially summer, I have been hunting for a new bathing suit so when I saw the highlights from the “Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim” at CNBC, I decided to take a look at the suits to get some ideas. Most of the suits were really gorgeous, though they did not seem terribly practical. I mean, a “glass bikini?” Get real. Who is going to parade themselves around in that off the run-way? Okay it is a little bit cool. But a bridal bikini? Do real women wear this stuff? And if not, what’s the point? Why not show something more practical that real women can wear and swim in?
Update: Photo added, from the Celebslam photo-gossip site; bumped to top — Ed.
Categories: Fashion
High fashion has never been about what women really wear. Don’t ask me why; I’ve never understood it. Instead, I think of it as some weird exhibit at the zoo, to be gawked at and amused by.
As for the “bridal bikini,” it’s not even a very attractive one, with a 1950s look to the swimsuit element.
I for one wouldn’t be caught dead in it.
You fail to comprehend. We don’t want stuff that women can swim in; sure, after swimming they’re wet, but their hair gets all stringy and stuff. We want eye candy.
I read somewhere there’s a direct correlation between the state of the economy and the number of women wearing glass bikinis. Now, if I can only find the link…..
Here’s the point: marketing. The outrageous and off-the-wall designs are hooks that give media types a convenient launch point, and a reason to report on such events.
I really had something else in mind when I saw the words “glass bikini”.
I know, I know–”Get your mind out of the gutter, Greg!”
I used to date a fashion person in NYC and asked this same question. The answer is that the runway stuff, especially the wild stuff like glass bikinis and bridal bikinis, is meant to attract attention and reputation; there will be a whole lot of other stuff in the “line” that won’t get runway shows with $1000/hr models, but will instead be shown in private shows for buyers.
Is she walking around bare foot wearing a glass bikini. That doesn’t seem wise. Shard!
Wait, I was expecting pictures…
“And if not, what’s the point?”
Silly Dr. Helen. To impress themselves and all their “friends” with how avant-garde and edgy they are, of course.
A long time ago I came to the conclusion that most fashion and interior design is not produced in order to be attractive, pragmatic, and useful. Instead it’s is produced to give industry insiders a subject to talk about and comment on the “brilliance” or “innovation” or the designer. After viewing the linked photographs and having to sit through a interior design game show (where one of the contestants threw paint on walls and made a recliner out of unmodified plastic water bottles)I still believe my original conclusion.
I too expected something else when I read ‘glass bikini’.
But I also thought the Diesel Italy one was nice.
I noticed someting interesting about the model wearing the bridal bikini (and the next one in the slideshow as well–same model and same design house): She had curves, and was definitely not a skin-and-bones size 0. She…she looked normal. And gorgeous.
Indeed! I was shocked!
Pleasantly shocked, mind you, but still, shocked.
Agreed!
A nice surprise.
I can’t remember who it was, but someone once said that the Fashion Industry is just a long running practical joke on rich people. That’s the only thing that makes sense to me.
That’s an interesting way to look at it.
Sort of a modern-day version of the Emperor’s New Clothes.
More like a long-running practical joke on *straight* white rich people. Body types of runway models seem selected to mimic pubescent boys. To the point where someone designing for models that actually have a shape causes remarks. Case in point Christina Hendricks. She’s built like a woman, you’re point?
To be honest, I thought I’d be seeing a bikini made out of or incorporating woven spun glass. As far as practical bikinis women can swim in… women might swim in them, and they’re harder to see underwater.
The Libbey Glass Company of Toledo, Ohio produced the first glass formal gown in 1904. It was displayed at the Saint Louis World’s Fair. And it was actually made of glass.
“She said, ‘Don’t hand me no lines and keep your hands to yourself!’”
Designers are looking for notoriety and praise from their peers. Of course they’re interested in money too. The runway items are hooks to get people to buy the more practical items in their lines. Beyond that, they look at what they do as art. If you agree that it’s art, (I have to suspend my incredulity to do this) then it’s one of the more practical art forms. You can’t wear a dance or a statue, but you can be a living art piece by wearing one of these designer’s works.
They don’t design it for real women. They design it for the homosexuals who pretty much run the fashion industry.
It’s not about making women look good. It’s now about out-doing each other.
They dont sell clothes they sell abrand.You are talking about them , they did their job. Now, they will give licences to sell anything with the brand on
A modern lady might turn to classical models, and check out these ancient Roman bikinis that Eugene posted over at the Volokh Conspiracy. See
http://volokh.com/2011/07/18/nothing-new-under-the-sun-4/.
Judging from the activities the young ladies are engaged in, the Roman bikini was suitable for athletic endeavor. It looks reasonably modest, and, although, as a guy, I certainly am not in position to judge, reasonably comfortable.
And I’m sure the Roman bikini would get the VDH seal of classics professor approval!
A friend once shared with me that a design instructor had told her she would never succeed as a women’s designer because she didn’t design what men wanted to see. Considering the ‘glass bikini’ comments, the designing-women’s-clothes-for-men meme seems to still be operative…
Look at haute coture fashion shows. Women and gay men LOVE LOVE LOVE to dress up in fabulous outfits that scream LOOK AT ME ME ME!
That’s about all this is about.
Why ruin the fun by being practical?
/sarc
The whole point of fashion is that women will wear anything as long as you get them excited about it first.
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