After we realised that life continued when the clock struck midnight, the evolution of fashion became so absorbed by celebrities, which reigns truer today than ever before due to the immediate access of social sites like Instagram and Pinterest. JLo’s coveted velvet tracksuit and hoop earrings or Aaliyah’s baggy cargos and crop tops are just two examples of ladies in the early 2000’s who were unintentional trendsetters for the masses. Sex & the City, although debuting in the late 1990’s, became a coveted style muse for high-end designer brands in its later years.
Although Bermuda is miles away from the fashion capitals of the world, we continue to evolve in large part due to the range of diversity in our people. I find myself admiring several women of all ages and backgrounds walking the streets of Hamilton. One with a classic wrap dress and pumps walking into a reinsurance building; another donning a pleated skirt with a fitted blouse (French tucked) paired with pointed stilettos headed into the bank; and another wearing a distressed boyfriend jean, silk tank top and crisp white sneakers headed into a day in the life of retail. Our seasons may be stretched due to our climate, but our country still manages to stay on trend year after year. Even our very own Bermuda Short made an international debut with fitted ladies’ silhouettes in wearable fabrics like denim; peaking in popularity around 2013 in international stores such as J Crew and Gap.
Over the span of a decade or two we’ve managed to hunker down and nail the most flattering silhouettes (think fit and flare dresses), elegant slides (remember, go buy a pair of mules), and most importantly the elevation in the quality of fabrics for a more attainable price point. You don’t need the price tag of a Louis Vuitton to invest in a gorgeous handbag anymore. So, when you next buy yourself a quality piece of clothing or an accessory, take care and hang onto it because in another decade your daughter might tell you ‘it’s back in style’ and she wants to borrow it…by Nadia Laws
They say history repeats itself. Well, the same is true for fashion. RG Mags asked three style conscious women to weigh in on their inspirations from eras gone by and what the future of fashion could bring.
As a child, Rochelle Minors would lay on her parents’ bed watching Italian runway shows on the TV and dreaming about a future career in the fashion industry. “I knew one day that would be me,” she said. The former Miss Bermuda pageant winner, who took home the coveted crown in 2012, is now the designer behind Rochelle Nicole, a line that’s reinventing classic daywear for fashion-loving women.
While it was Ms Minors’ mom who first introduced her to paper dolls that she could dress up and experiment creatively with; it was actually her grandmother, Barbara Minors, that most inspired her current style. “I can see a lot of my grandmother’s influence in my style and the way I dress,” the 30-year-old said. “She was a classic woman and loved the latest fashions. She worked for Calypso most of her life, so you know she had ‘the best’ in her wardrobe.” To this day, Ms Minors loves wearing her grandmother’s vintage pieces; and admits a lot of her jewellery, accessories, handbags and even some jackets came from the senior’s closet. “I love the 60’s decade, mainly the colour blocking, which I incorporate into my personal wardrobe, as well as my designs,” she said.
Fashion trends tend to be cyclical and Ms Minors, a graduate of the University for the Creative Arts in London, UK, has seen 1980s and 90s inspired fashions make a serious comeback recently. This includes pencil dresses, tailored trousers, fitted blazers and slip dresses, which she doesn’t see going out of style anytime soon.
I love the 60’s decade,
mainly the color
blocking, which I
incorporate into
my personal wardrobe,
as well as my designs
Looking forward into the future, the Bermudian designer expects to see more European influences injected into local trends. “Over the last twenty years, our style has become more refined, chic, and put together,” she said. “Bermudian fashion has always been elegant, but now we are becoming more modern and moving away from baggy and mix-matched pieces, opting instead for slim cut suits, soft tailoring, co-ords, chic simple dresses and lots of colour. We’ve also embraced African culture and have seen traditional cloth being worn at various events around the Island.”
Catherine “CiCi” Araujo can’t remember a time when she wasn’t into fashion. Ever since she was little, she’s experimented with different styles, colours and trends and admittedly some suited her “much better” than others. From beyond ‘mini, mini’ skirts, to acid wash denim and diamante branded logo tees, Ms Araujo is happy to never again speak of some of those past failed attempts at fashion over the years.
Declutter
Faux Fur Coat, Mango, Gibbons Company
Earrings, Rings & Hairclip, all Touché
Earrings, Touché
Animal Print Sweater, Skirt & Cap, Mango, Gibbons Company
Bug Neckpiece & Rings, Touché
She’s a role model for all the women everywhere.
