Over the summer I have noticed various runway trends transfer over to the campus of the Twin Cities area. No style however has been as prominent as the new utility fashion trend for the year of 2016. It feels as if everywhere go there is some variation of the trend. From lace-up bodysuits to nude color palettes, it is evident to see that there is more than one way to pull off this look. The premise of this style is to fuse fashion and function together to create a clean modern approach to utility aesthetics. One fashion show that stood out to me in particular for this style was the Balmain spring 2016 ready-to-wear runway show. This show had an incredible use of suede, buckles, belts and grommets; it took utility grunge to the next level.
Balmain, already being one of my favorite designers, inspired me to create my own utility grunge look. Common themes throughout their show were belted mini dresses, laced-up necklines and color blocking. After selecting this beautiful lace-up cargo dress, I was able to translate my own look into this trend.
The look I am wearing today is entitled “green grunge” and centers on utility and color. When working with a dress with abundant design and pattern, accessorizing can be challenging. I knew that bringing in another color may take away from the dress itself so I stuck to the idea of black accessories. One common element that is kept consistent with the black is its incorporation of gold accents. From the gold zippers to the lion head belt, the gold undertones match the grommets of the dress and bring consistency to the look.
My choice of suede boots were also based on the concept of consistency. Even something as detailed as texture and material can enhance the appearance of a look. Due to the fact the black suede matches the consistency of the green suede, the grommets and details of the dress remain as the focal points of the ensemble. Another key tactic that helps bring any look together is a belted waist. The waist is a crucial part of women’s clothing and frames the feminine body shape. I purposely chose to belt the waist with a lion head buckle as a symbol of dominance and power, matching the overall punk theme of this look.
Get My Look: 1. Lace-up cargo dress. 2. Over-the-knee-boots. 3. 3-D lion head belt.
