This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s fall editorial intern Raven Minyard. Find her on Instagram at @raven.minyard. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
Of course you’ve heard of fashion, but have you ever heard of the term anti-fashion? Anti-fashion is an umbrella term used to describe any styles or aesthetics that intentionally defy what’s trendy and fashionable. Those who wear anti-fashion styles often have an air of indifference or use their clothes as a political statement. Anti-fashion began gaining attention in the mid-20th century, and we can still see its influence in modern aesthetics. Today, we’re going to explain everything you need to know about the anti fashion movement, including its history and subcultures and how it exists in the modern world.
Anti-Fashion History
According to the Aesthetics Wiki, anti-fashion dates back to the 19th century. In the 1800s, anti-fashion was less of a statement and more of a convenience; these outfits were typically used for functional reasons like swimming or riding a bicycle. Anti-fashion as we know it today really began to take off in the 20th century as new forms of music and dance began developing.
In the 40s and 50s, subcultures like Beatniks and Greasers encompassed the idea of anti-fashion. Beatniks, inspired by the Beat literary movement, dressed in monochrome outfits, often featuring black-and-white striped shirts, black turtlenecks and berets – think of the way stereotypical poets are often depicted in cartoons and sitcoms. Greasers were a working-class subculture inspired by rock-and-roll music. They often wore plain white t-shirts paired with denim or leather jackets, blue jeans and bandanas. Both of these aesthetics were the opposite of the light, bright colors popular at the time. Hippies were the most common anti-fashion subculture in the 1960s, and by the 80s and 90s, grunge and punk looks were taking over the anti-fashion world, as well as the goth, skater and hip-hop aesthetics.
While each of these subcultures has its own look and meaning, most, if not all, of them have roots in anti-consumerism. Hippies often protested consumerism, and the grunge style developed because people either couldn’t or didn’t want to spend money on new clothes. Greasers, too, were typically lower-class and didn’t spend extravagant amounts of money on their appearance.
Modern Anti-Fashion: Does It Still Exist?
We can still see the influence of 20th-century anti-fashion in modern subcultures and styles, but modern intentions are a bit different. What began as wearing certain styles out of necessity has turned into intentional aesthetics. One example of this is the rise of new grunge in the early 2010s. The trend took off on Tumblr, and people intentionally sought out flannels, ripped jeans and work boots. If so many people adopt the look, is it still anti-fashion or has it become fashion in general?
There are also a number of fashion designers associated with the anti-fashion movement, including Marc Jacobs and Ann Demeulemeester. While these designers produce avant-garde looks that aren’t typically seen in day-to-day life, the clothing is expensive and out of many people’s price ranges, which defies the original intention of anti-fashion.
As time goes on, trends obviously change. People begin looking for new aesthetics, and they embrace looks they may have ignored even months before. Because of the rise of fast fashion and Internet trends, anti-fashion has become more of an oxymoron over the years. People are turning to alternative styles not to make a statement or defy norms, but because it’s trendy.
So does anti-fashion still exist? It’s up for debate. Because anti-fashion is the opposite of trendy fashion, it’s hard for a specific anti-fashion movement to arise when trends are changing much more quickly than in the past. One example of modern anti-fashion is thrifting. Thrifting is a cheap and sustainable alternative to buying fast fashion. However, as thrifting becomes more trendy, prices will continue to rise and it will no longer be a viable fashion alternative.
Ultimately, the best way to promote anti-fashion is to avoid over-consumerism and buy clothes you’ll like and wear for a long time instead of giving in to trends that will change a month from now.
We hope you enjoyed this article on the anti fashion movement. Do you think anti-fashion still exists? Let us know in the comments!
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