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<\/p>\nWhen I wore a mustard yellow beret, a belted camel coat with oversized tortoiseshell buttons and loafers with mismatched socks to brunch last month with my friend David, he immediately knew what I was doing. He looked at me and laughed and said \u201cOh, so you\u2019re trying to channel the less troubled younger sister of Margot Tenenbaum?\u201d I tried to protest \u2013 I didn\u2019t want to look like I was channeling a character from a quirky independent film, I just really loved the outfit \u2013 but before I could get the words out of my mouth, I caught sight of myself in the window of the restaurant. I couldn\u2019t believe it \u2013 he was absolutely right. All I would need to do to complete the transformation was frame myself evenly and add a completely deadpan expression. I had accidently Wes-Andersoned myself.<\/p>\n
And I\u2019m not alone. Look at your Instagram feed or walk through certain neighborhoods in major cities (Greenpoint, I\u2019m talking to you!), and you\u2019ll see them instantly \u2013 people dressed like they\u2019re waiting for a vintage train to take them to a precocious spelling bee at a pastel colored resort run by Bill Murray. They wear berets and barrettes, knee socks with loafers, tweed blazers with elbow patches and round wire-rimmed glasses. Their colour palette stays inside a very small range of muted yellows, rust orange, forest green and burgundy. Everything is slightly too short or slightly too long. Nothing is ever regular sized.<\/p>\n
The Wes Anderson aesthetic has broken free of the confines of film and has made its way into our closets and we can\u2019t say we\u2019re upset. However, we are curious. Why is everybody dressing like they\u2019re trying out for \u201cThe Royal Tenenbaums: The Musical\u201d all of a sudden? And why now, when Anderson has been creating visually distinct films for over twenty years?<\/p>\n
\u201cFashion always draws inspiration from visual culture,\u201d states Dr. Melissa Torres, a professor of cultural studies at New York University who teaches a class called \u201cFashion in Film.\u201d \u201cWhat is fascinating about the Wes Anderson influence is how specific and identifiable it is. You can point to somebody and say \u2018that\u2019s Wes Anderson core\u2019 the same way you could say \u2018that\u2019s punk\u2019 or \u2018that\u2019s prep.\u2019 It has created its own distinguishable aesthetic category.\u201d<\/p>\n
The identifiable Wes Anderson look is based largely off of prep school uniforms, the colours and patterns of the mid-century, European sensibilities and vintage sportswear. It is at once nostalgic and timeless, whimsical yet precise, and different enough from other styles to be identifiable without being outrageous. While Anderson has been developing this aesthetic since Rushmore in 1998, it has only been in the past year or two that it has exploded as a mainstream fashion influence.<\/p>\n
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The timing makes sense when considering our current cultural environment. When the world can feel so chaotic and unpredictable, the carefully crafted and ordered world of a Wes Anderson film is appealing because it represents order, intention and the idea that there is someone directing the scene with precision.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is something reassuring about the control in Anderson\u2019s aesthetic,\u201d states Maya Lin, a costume designer who has worked on several independent films. \u201cEvery detail is thought out. There is nothing accidental. We have been living in a time of great uncertainty \u2013 pandemic, politics, climate etc. \u2013 and there is something soothing about looking like you fit into a world where everything has its place.\u201d<\/p>\n
TikTok has also been a significant factor in the spread of the aesthetic. The hashtag #WesAndersonAesthetic has over 500 million views. Users share images of outfits, home decor ideas, and scenarios where they imagine their lives as a Wes Anderson film. The algorithm pushes the video to anyone who has expressed interest in vintage clothing, independent films or quirky personal style, thus creating a self-reinforcing circle of Anderson inspired content.<\/p>\n
Additionally, in 2023, TikTok users began filming mundane locations \u2013 laundromats, libraries, convenience stores \u2013 in a symmetrical and colour-coordinated style, similar to Anderson\u2019s cinematography. Suddenly, everyone was viewing the world as if they were watching a Wes Anderson film. Fashion followed.<\/p>\n
However, the Wes Anderson aesthetic is not just about nostalgia or escape \u2013 it\u2019s about creating characters. Anderson\u2019s films are filled with immediately recognizable characters who define themselves by their distinctive wardrobes. Think Margot Tenenbaum\u2019s Lacoste dresses and blunt bob, Suzy Bishop\u2019s pink dress and binoculars in Moonrise Kingdom, or the matching uniforms of The Grand Budapest Hotel. Each of these characters knows who they are and dresses accordingly. In a time when many of us feel lost and unsure of our own identities, that confidence is appealing.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you incorporate elements of the Wes Anderson style into your wardrobe, you\u2019re essentially costume designing your own character,\u201d states Torres. \u201cYou\u2019re saying, \u2018this is who I am in the movie of my life.\u2019 This is a way of using clothing as a method of telling your own personal story.\u201d<\/p>\n
I can relate to this. Sometimes, when I feel especially uncertain or anxious, I reach for clothing that feels more intentional, more structured. Clothing that feels like armor against chaos. My most Wes Anderson-esque items (the mustard beret, a tweed blazer from a vintage store in Paris, saddle shoes I purchased on a whim and wear far more often than I anticipated) provide a feeling of being the main character, whether I\u2019m walking down the street or sitting alone in a coffee shop.<\/p>\n
Recently, I decided to attempt to emulate the aesthetic more intentionally, instead of accidentally. I wanted to explore how I would feel when I deliberately embodied the look. So, I put together a full-on Wes Anderson inspired outfit, including a pleated tennis skirt, knee socks, penny loafers, a button-down shirt with a Peter Pan collar, and a cardigan draped over my shoulders. I finished the outfit with a velvet headband and a pair of glasses. Overall, the combination felt like a cross between the image of a precocious private school student and an eccentric young widow with a dark secret.<\/p>\n
The reaction was instant and varied. The barista at my local coffee shop, who typically ignores my existence except to serve me my coffee, smiled and said, \u201cI love your entire vibe today.\u201d A woman on the subway asked where I purchased my skirt. My editor, when I arrived at our meeting, simply said, \u201cRushmore?\u201d and I nodded. That was it.<\/p>\n
However, the most surprising result was the way the outfit affected how I moved through the world. I found myself standing taller, speaking more deliberately, and \u2013 I swear this is true \u2013 I experienced a strong urge to position myself in the centre of doorways and gaze pensively into the middle distance. The clothes did not just function as clothes \u2013 they directed me to portray a particular character in the film of my day.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is the true value of aesthetically distinct looks like Anderson\u2019s,\u201d states Lin. \u201cThey are not just visual \u2013 they are behavioral. Clothes make demands on how you move and interact.\u201d<\/p>\n
Of course, not everyone can or wishes to emulate the entire Wes Anderson aesthetic in their daily lives. The aesthetic requires a willingness to abandon practicality (knee socks are not the ideal choice for most office environments) and may venture into costuming territory if carried to extremes. Many people, however, are incorporating elements of the aesthetic into their wardrobes in more subtle ways \u2013 a pair of round glasses, a whimsical brooch, or simply a more thoughtful consideration of colour coordination.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t have to wear head-to-toe Margot Tenenbaum,\u201d suggests Parker Lee, a stylist who has worked with several indie musicians who are embracing the aesthetic. \u201cIt\u2019s more about the spirit \u2013 a little whimsy, a little nostalgia, and clothing that tells a story about who you are.\u201d<\/p>\n
High-end fashion has also taken notice of the trend. Miu Miu\u2019s recent collections could easily dress an Anderson film, with their blend of vintage-inspired silhouettes, quirky accessories and distinctive colour palettes. Under Alessandro Michele, Gucci has adopted the eccentricity and layered storytelling inherent in Anderson\u2019s visual universe. Even more minimalistic brands such as The Row have adopted elements of Anderson\u2019s precision and intentionality \u2013 although not his whimsy.<\/p>\n
However, the most creative interpretations of the aesthetic are emerging in vintage and second-hand communities. Since Anderson\u2019s own visual references draw primarily from earlier eras ; the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s ; shopping for vintage clothing is the perfect means of gathering authentic Anderson-inspired pieces.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy best Anderson-inspired pieces are all vintage,\u201d affirms Lee. \u201cA 1960s Pendleton jacket, a pair of saddle shoes that were made in the 1970s and still have tags attached, French school girl barrettes from the 1980s. They have the patina of actual experience that makes them feel like character pieces rather than costumes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Additionally, the connection to vintage and second-hand clothing provides a sustainable aspect to the trend that appeals to environmentally-conscious consumers. If you are going to dress like you are in a Wes Anderson film, it makes sense to gather those items in a manner that resembles gathering pieces for a film wardrobe \u2013 searching out unique items with histories as opposed to purchasing fast-fashion knock-off versions.<\/p>\n
Lastly, there is something democratic about the trend. Like some high-fashion aesthetics that rely on specific body types or considerable financial resources, the Wes Anderson aesthetic is available to most people. Characters in Anderson\u2019s films come in all shapes, sizes, ages and genders and many of the most iconic pieces \u2013 berets, glasses, Oxford shoes \u2013 can be found at a variety of price points.<\/p>\n
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\u201cIt is one of the only aesthetics that does not appear to focus on traditional notions of physical attractiveness or sensuality,\u201d notes Torres. \u201cIt focuses on expressing a personality rather than showcasing the body, which allows it to include a wide range of people in a way that many trends cannot.\u201d<\/p>\n
As with any trend that achieves mainstream success, a backlash is beginning to emerge. Long-time fans of Anderson are concerned that the aesthetic is becoming diluted or misinterpreted by casual followers. Other critics argue that what appears to be whimsical and charming on some people can be interpreted as eccentric or odd on others, particularly older women or people of colour.<\/p>\n
\u201cClearly, there is a level of privilege in being able to express quirkiness and have it seen as charming as opposed to bizarre,\u201d admits Torres. \u201cFor example, the same outfit that would make a young white woman look like she is a sweet and lovable Wes Anderson character, would likely cause an older woman or person of colour to be viewed as unprofessional or odd. That is not Anderson\u2019s responsibility \u2013 it is a fact of how these aesthetics operate in society.\u201d<\/p>\n
While this backlash presents valid concerns, I truly believe that the Wes Anderson fashion influence has the ability to positively contribute to society.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
When I wore a mustard yellow beret, a belted camel coat with oversized tortoiseshell buttons and loafers with mismatched socks to brunch last month with my friend David, he immediately…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":19965,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1951,10626],"tags":[1950],"class_list":["post-19456","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-claires-picks","category-trendy-musings","tag-h"],"yoast_head":"\n