When Marc Jacobs sent his fall collection down the runway in February, the fashion industry breathed a collective sigh of astonishment. Ever the innovator, Jacobs had once again displaced every established norm with his fantastical pilgrimmeets-twenty-first-century creations topped off with ginormous Dr. Seuss–like hats. Asked about the inspiration for the collection, Jacobs cited such "insider" style icons as fashion journalists Anna Piaggi and Lynn Yaeger and photographer Cindy Sherman—all undeniably unconventional dressers.
And it's not just the high-fashion world that is moving away from bland, cookiecutter looks. Who doesn't recall Lady Gaga's infamous raw-meat dress from the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards? Or the pom-pomcovered frock that Nicki Minaj donned for the Carolina Herrera show at New York Fashion Week? Yet in Hollywood, so many young starlets play it safe in unimaginative bandage dresses and platform heels to avoid landing on the dreaded worst-dressed lists. Therefore, it's all the more notable that the new crop of pop stars—Willow Smith, Katy Perry, Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, and Lady Gaga, to name a few—are opting to exchange the safety of the expected route in order to lead the trend toward a more unique personal look.
Of course, someone like Lady Gaga falls on the extreme end of the spectrum. "Her style is theatrical," Margaret, 21, from New York City, says of the pop star. "That kind of eccentricity is on the radical side of fashion. It's about branding and making an impression rather than wearability. Last time I checked, no one was actually into meat gowns."
But while you might not spot these outrageous ensembles off the red carpet anytime soon, they can definitely be credited with inspiring people to step away from their comfort zone. In our digital age, with the rise of street-style photography and the increasing popularity of fashion blogs, unusual dressing has become far more visible. Sites like The Sartorialist and Jak & Jil have created such a frenzy to be photographed that events like fashion week have become almost as much about the spectacle of street style as they are about the shows themselves. It's not uncommon for people to dress up just to mill around outside the shows, hoping to get snapped by one of the many photographers and bloggers.
As society embraces a less-expected look, people have become more comfortable with dressing against prescribed norms in a way that expresses their distinct personality. "I dress individually because I think individually," explains Leandra Medine, author of popular blog The Man Repeller. "My point of view is unique, comical, and often weird, and I want my aesthetic to represent that." (Looking through the photos on Medine's blog, it is impossible to deny that her viewpoint is visible in each and every outfit she wears.) Praising items like oversize denim overalls and cat-eye sunglasses, Medine presses her readers to dress for themselves and not to be afraid to experiment with unconventional prints or crazy layering.
While dressing uniquely sounds easy in theory, it can be significantly more difficult in practice. "I feel pressure to conform to what I see around me," explains Juliette, eighteen, from Vancouver, British Columbia. "I want to embrace fashion-forward looks, but only the ones my friends are wearing, because I don't want to stick out. At the beginning of this season, I read in all the magazines that flared jeans were making a comeback, so I went out and bought a pair. When I got to school, I didn't see a single person wearing them, and they haven't left my closet since."
And for those not living in a fashion-aware city, it can be even harder to break the mold. "When I was growing up, things were very conventional," recalls Vogue contributor Yaeger. "I was not the most popular person in school! I think anybody who makes any sort of fashion statement, even if it's not as bold as mine, probably leaves herself open for criticism and teasing," she adds.
But if there's anything to be learned from these style visionaries, it's that the only way to break the mold is to take some chances. What memorable public figure hasn't had a few misses in her career? "If you're entirely happy with your style choices, however unconventional they are, then that should be enough to get rid of any fears," says Susie Lau, the voice behind fashion blog Style Bubble. "It's all part of the process of developing your personal style. There are no hardand-fast rules, and the fun part of it is experimenting and finding out what you feel good in."
It may seem that unconventional dressing is easier for celebrities and fashion personalities than for the average teen, but that doesn't mean eccentric style can't have a place in the mainstream. "Often you show up to parties and it's like everyone is wearing variations on the same thing," notes Margaret. Adds Charlotte, 21, from Los Angeles, "I think it would be fun if more people wore riskier outfits on a daily basis."
Lau agrees. "If anything, if you're living out an 'everyday life,' isn't it an added joy to wear something that is out of the ordinary?" she asks. "Dressing to please yourself on an aesthetic level is something available to everyone—not just the rarefied few." Which might not mean those ten-inch platforms you saw on Lady Gaga. "Dressing impractically does not [necessarily] make you eccentric," notes Julia Frakes, a fashion writer, model, and unusual dresser in her own right.
The best way to shake things up is to begin small. "Just do one thing differently," explains Medine. "In high school, I always tied my sneaker shoelaces around my ankles instead of in the traditional bunny loops. It individualized my style in a sea of modest uniforms, and that was enough to keep me going until I was finally ready to fully let loose."
Bottom line: Eccentric fashion isn't for everyone. Personal style is about conveying a part of yourself through your clothes. If you have a more conservative personality, you may opt for low-key looks that reflect such a trait. What's important is that you choose clothes that express who you are and not just what you see around you.
"You don't need to start with an obscure or eccentric base to honestly express a message," says Frakes. "A small flourish that reveals something about you when you're in, say, Gap 1969 leggings and a favorite old tee can translate just as eccentrically. It's all about how you wear what you wear."
