Star Struck Style

It’s been a big week in fashion. Michael Rider just presented his debut collection for Celine hot on the heels of J.W. Anderson’s debut at Christian Dior.

Astrologically speaking, we’re in a much different era than we were the last time that the big shows took place. In January, Jupiter was in Gemini, Saturn was in Pisces, Uranus was in Taurus, and Neptune was in Pisces. Today, each one of those planets has moved into the following sign. However, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune will all return to the previous signs that they inhabited because of their upcoming retrograde cycles. For that reason, I don’t want to go overboard as I herald a brand new era in fashion. Nevertheless, the indications are here that a brand new era of fashion is on the horizon.

Why do I say that? I believe that there will be major tension between the very rich and the not-so-rich over the next few years. I’ve written about that already in a series entitled “Bet on Punk.” But another trend has caught my eye now that these two heavy-hitters have presented their collections: making the most of what you already have.

Now that phrase might seem familiar if you follow my blog. I’ve been telling myself that I’ve got enough of everything for quite some time. My closet is full of beautiful clothes that I barely ever wear. I have skinny pants and wide pants, showy prints and muted pieces, boxy jackets and fitted jackets, etc. Both of these designers showed just what is possible from a styling perspective when you implicitly know how to put things together in a modern, fashionable manner. Neither of them showed anything new, and both shows were a breath of fresh air — especially for someone like me who needs another item of clothing like I need a hole in the head.

From a sales perspective, this seems like a horrible strategy. Why tell anyone that they need to buy less? However, for a luxury label that it trying to navigate a downturn in the business, it might be the right way to get consumers to understand that investment pieces are just that: something you put your money into because you know that it’s going to endure. With Jupiter in conservate Cancer while the other aforementioned planets move back and forth between signs, it might be perfect timing. Getting people on board with your brand is a lifelong investment, and if these shows are any evidence of this shift in the sales strategy of the luxury conglomerates, these two guys seem to understand that.

Of course, Jupiter won’t be in Cancer a year from now and the other outer planets will have settled into their new homes. The outlook will be much different. But in the meantime, the labels that have the intention of courting a new generation of luxury consumers will be doing it by nurturing those consumers and letting them know that building a wardrobe is different than buying a wardrobe. Once Jupiter enters Leo, perhaps the loyalty of these new consumers will have been established. Loyalty will be a big theme in the universe once Jupiter gets around to opposing Pluto in Aquarius next July.

It will be interesting to see if this theme continues as more labels present their collections. In the meantime, I’m going to continue to make the most of what I already have. That doesn’t mean that I can’t keep a tally of what I might want in the future. It just means that taking a step back in a time of economic uncertainty can also be a time of tremendous opportunity for those who sense that this economic slowdown isn’t going to end anytime soon.