Tough fashion

Flying back from a welcome break in the South of France last weekend, I read Ruth La Ferla's fashion trend article in the International Herald Tribune (Sunday February 28, 2010) predicting a return to tough fashion for women: In a Tough Style World, No Damsels in distress.  From her observations and conversations with various fashion consultants/stylists/shop owners, she develops the notion that women are turning away from girly styles and adopting harder looks, "studs and leather, mannish jackets and rock-star jeans" with androgynous undertones and a blurring of gender dividing lines.

"a down and dirty kind of look" according to Andrew Bolton, curator at the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art who is quoted in the article.

The "tough" look is also one of the trends highlighted by the Sunday Times Magazine (dated 28/02/2010), telling us to mix straps, buckles, zips and chains with sex and glamour.

I am all for a return to more assertive women, ditching the sex-object looks and footballer's wife vulgarity but I am not entirely sure if the shoes shown above, still sky-high and dominatrix-inspired project the right kind of forceful image! However, I have noticed lately that my eldest daughter - the ruthless judge, is sporting slashed, loose T-shirts instead of her usual skin-tight styles and studded (flat) boots - could it be a sign of an emerging toughness? In any event, a bit of rock star stance might appeal on days when we need a confidence boost and I'll be on the look out for a wearable version of the "tough" look for a 40+.

A good place to start might be Ash, the Italian shoe makers - their style can have that sexy but harder edge. Some of their designs are frankly slutty but I like their vintage leather boots and some of their sandals.

They also have a good line of trainer inspired shoes with heels and plenty of buckles. I am not completely crazy about them but they can solve the short woman's perennial dilemma of how to wear trainers without disappearing entirely from view.

The shoes are available from two shops in London and other retailers for selected lines.
To see the new collection: http://www.ashitalia.com/