Funny fashion: the joke's on us
Im not someone without a sense of humour, but Ive traditionally drawn the line at humorous fashion.Sweaters bearing witty bon mots leave me stony-faced, even on six-year-olds.
Likewise: novelty phone covers, luxury bags smothered in cartoon stickers, pom-pom key rings with cutesy faces, and anything created by Jeremy Scott since he took over at Moschino (above).Although the success of that label since he did would suggest Im seriously out of sync with what tickles the rest of the worlds ribs.
But I was surprised, while browsing the sales for po-faced bargains in humourless shades of navy and slate grey, to find myself drawn to a pale-blue cotton jumpsuit embroidered with the bodies of two swans in profile.Not something that anyone weaned on to solid foods should be seen in, and yet I gave the swans a wry smile.
Next to them, a shirt with the edges embroidered in the silhouette of a face prompted a short exhalation of amusement, almost a laugh.They were both pieces by the Italian label Vivetta – beautiful, surrealist and witty.Clearly, humour is subjective – one designers hilarious sartorial riposte is anothers SOH fail.
In fashion, thats quite a risk: telling a joke that flops is one thing, wearing it all day (all season!) is a nightmare.But one of the reasons Gucci under Alessandro Michele has been so refreshing is its undercurrent of wit.
All those girls in nerdy glasses and aristocratic heirloom references?Youve gotta laugh.Its a different joke to that proposed by Moschinos Kiss Me Quick clowning.Gucci is Wes Anderson to Moschinos Judd Apatow.But I guess theres got to be room for both.
In fact, I now see that a sense of humour about fashion should be encouraged at all costs.Late New Years resolution?Get over myself.
Velvet flats, £395, Charlotte Olympia
Hello sailor sweater, £350, Chinti & Parker
Faux-fur make-up bag, £15, Topshop
Gold-plated, Swarovski crystal and enamel earrings, £380, Erickson Beamon at Net-a-Porter
Cotton-mix shirt, £230, Vivetta at Bernard Boutique
Embossed leather bag, £795, Anya Hindmarch