They’re grrreat…?! Fashion has officially gone lowbrow, and we’re hitting new levels of irony. From the fast-food drive-through to the supermarket, think cheap, suburban Americana for a high price. Although I appreciate the playful concept, I just am not loving Anya Hindmarch’s new in-your-face cereal motif. It’s like Moschino going all McDonald’s on us: while I can appreciate the effort of a cheeky juxtaposition, it’s just not for me.
A lovely leather top-handle bag splashed with a retro image of Tony the Tiger and teeny-tiny ayers snakeskin minaudières designed to look like classic boxes of Corn Flakes and Frosted Flakes. They’re kind of funny, I guess, but why would I walk around as a billboard for Kellogg’s? It just seems totally random. Maybe it’s the business-minded side of me that’s dominating my feelings, or maybe it’s just because these bags just aren’t quite cute enough. Call me no fun. Either way, this is a trend I just cannot get behind. What’s your feeling: do you prefer to keep your favorite sugary flakes in the kitchen pantry or are you ready to wear them? Maxi Frosties tote, $2,295 at Saks Fifth Avenue; Corn Flakes clutch, $1,595; and Frosties clutch, $1,595, on Luisa via Roma.
They are awful. They say nothing interesting about the wearer. At least with the Olympia Le Tan book-clutches, you look like you have aspirations to read a book. What does it mean if all you want to read is the back of a cereal box?
Personally, I love the whole collection! As a graphic designer I’ve always admired some of the graphics on everyday brands and was thrilled to see them treated as art – just the way Andy Warhol did. Creating a collection that challenges the whole idea of ‘designer brands’ without being pretentious must be a tricky thing to do and I think Anya’s nailed it.