Film Noir Buff Style Forum / Le normcore

fxh · 2014-04-02 23:32:27

fxh · 2014-04-02 23:35:18

Decoding #Normcore: A Field Guide

By Alison Syrett Cleary Associate Digital Editor

http://www.luckymag.com/style/2014/03/normcore

About two years ago, I overheard a colleague telling someone that trying was the new not trying. "I used to be that girl in the T-shirt and jeans, acting like she doesn't care," she admitted. "But not anymore!" I remember confidently looking down at the silk polka dot pants and glitter-covered Miu Miu brogues I was wearing and internally nodding in agreement. Yes, over-the-top effort was undoubtedly in.

This was right around the same time that the street style boom had reached critical mass, and blog feeds were bubbling over with image after image of both men and women wearing outlandish ensembles. Fashion month had become become much more about attendees' attire than what was on the actual runways; every day was contest to see who could pull off the craziest prints, the tallest shoes, the weirdest sunglasses. It was fun for awhile, but soon the scene outside the tents became overwhelmingly frenzied, and the backlash began. Fashion journalist Suzy Menkes caused waves of debate by posting a piece in February 2013 that described the situation as "a circus," and editors began buzzing about the return of minimalism. By the time NYFW rolled around last September, the look of the moment had changed. It was simpler, less flashy, kind of bland and little bit ugly. It was normcore.

Normcore, in case you haven't heard of it yet, has been the fashion world's favorite topic lately. Described by New York Magazine as a way of "embracing sameness deliberately as a new way of being cool, rather than striving for 'difference' or 'authenticity,'" it's a look comprised of the sort of frumpy mom and dad attire—Birkenstocks, Tevas, polar fleece—you used to make fun of your parents for wearing. It's all about showing you can't be bothered with the uncomfortable and impractical; you've got more important things to worry about than following the latest trend.

But here's the thing: I think that normcorers care a great deal about their appearance. Although, yes, they're working with plain, middle America mall clothes, they still put everything together in a way that's not only flattering, but distinctive. It's sort of like when you watch a movie or television show, and every character—even the ones with no sense of style or spare money to spend on fashion—seem to have a perfectly tailored wardrobe and a excellent sense of what works with what. Everything looks good because the proportions are just right, and the styling is just so, something that's much harder to pull off than you'd think. To show you just how much effort actually goes into making the unfashionable seem cool, I've broken down the normcore look into six specific types I've been seeing on editors, models and bloggers recently, along with a how-to on getting the look yourself. Just don't go and tell me that you didn't try—I know better.

fxh · 2014-04-02 23:40:51

fxh · 2014-04-02 23:42:34

The Real Meaning Of Normcore, The Fashion Trend That Went Oddly Viral

The Huffington Post | by Katherine Brooks 03/06/2014 2:25 pm EST Updated: 03/07/2014 8:59 am EST

The term "normcore" has been sweeping the internet this past week, giving a name to a contemporary fashion trend marked by white sneakers, zip-up sweatshirts and pleated pants. New York Magazine's Fiona Duncan defined the trend as "self-aware, stylized blandness," introducing -- or reintroducing -- the world to a way of life popularized by Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David.

Duncan didn't come up with the term, though. That accomplishment goes to K-HOLE, a New York-based "trend forecasting" group comprised of Greg Fong, Chris Sherron, Emily Segal, Dena Yago and Sean Monahan. Monahan joined Huff Post Live Thursday morning to provide K-HOLE's explanation of the hashtag-able word that's invaded Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr and beyond.

#normcore #rises @NYMag pic.twitter.com/hCVtQc9rg8

— K-HOLE (@kholetrends) February 25, 2014

"Normcore is a desire to be blank," Monahan explains in the video above. "Fundamentally, the way that we thought about it at K-HOLE is that people used to be born into communities and were, sort of, thrust into the world and had to find their own individuality. And I think today, people are born individuals and are trying to find their communities."

As Monahan stated in an email to Huff Post Arts prior to the segment, "While the article described the term normcore as a style, we'd like to talk about how it applies as a trend and a meme."

In his opinion, the normcore style trend that New York Magazine wrote about is the New York version of this desire to be blank, grounded in the city's ongoing connection with "Seinfeld," the sitcom that's been heralded as the epitome of all things #normcore. Other pop culture icons that fit the mold: Louis C.K. and Steve Jobs, to name a few. But President Obama -- he's just a dad, Monahan speculated.

"At K-HOLE we think it's all about being situationally appropriate," Monahan extrapolated, when asked how one could spot a normcore offender on the streets. "It depends on who you are, what your scene is."

Essentially, concretely defining normcore is as difficult as articulating the term everyone's tired of hearing -- hipster. "You know it when you see it" seems to be the guiding principle for identifying the scene.

It's worth nothing that the seemingly dethroned label "hipster" has been used nauseatingly often to describe the habits and interests of those residing in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Williamsburg, while normcore has been associated with the throngs of SoHo in Manhattan. Is this the dawn of a new age?

fxh · 2014-04-02 23:46:10

Cultural Studies: The real meaning of ‘normcore’ and the rise of the trendless life

Amy Rosen, Special to National Post | March 23, 2014 11:00 AM ET

http://life.nationalpost.com/2014/03/23/cultural-studies-the-real-meaning-of-normcore-and-the-rise-of-the-trendless-life/

Do you need a regular slice to feel "normcore"? That's fine, just don't start crowding Amy Rosen's favourite joints just to get your carb kicks.

I wear a tried-and-true T-shirt and old-style sweatpants to the YMCA and I’m just one sartorial step ahead of the septuagenarian in knee-high tube socks on the treadmill beside me. There may be more breathable, fashionable fabrics than ours, but this isn’t Hydrospinning or SoulCycle. And I happen to think the old-timer and I know what’s what.
THIS IS NORMCORE

1. Dressing like you don’t care about fashion is the latest fashion.
2. But if we’re really going to get off the treadmill, normcore isn’t the way to do it.
3. Better to occasionally embrace actually not caring.

Our society is at a crossroads, online at the latest taco hot spot or waiting it out over drinks at a nearby bar, when what we really should be doing is enjoying oozing panzerotto at the Diplomatico in Toronto (circa 1968), bagels from Fairmont in Montreal (since 1949), a pint at John A. Macdonald’s favoured watering hole, Kingston’s Royal Tavern (c. 1851), blintzes at Toronto’s United Bakers (est. 1912), or a Goog Special at Winnipeg’s Bridge Drive-in (a winning mashup of an upside-down blueberry shake with a hot fudge sundae, bananas and whipped cream). I would argue that all of these things entail lusty eating, and best part is they all still exist. Toronto’s Sicilian Ice Cream factory is yet another example of a still-great family-run place that will be 55 years old in May, and their Café Francese — a shot of hot espresso poured over silky vanilla gelato and dusted with dark cocoa powder — is one of the best treats in town.

‘Normcore finds liberation in being nothing special, and realizes that adaptability leads to belonging’

So why have we largely moved on when instead we should be cherishing those bagels and honouring that panzerotti? Why are we all suddenly dressed in the same skinny jeans and needlessly shopping when we have drawers full of perfectly good T-shirts and jeans that were built to last?

I know what you’re thinking: She’s talking about Normcore, the buzzword du jour. The definition is still up for a bit of debate, but to clear things up, K-Hole, the New York trend forecasting agency that coined the term, tweeted a simplified explanation: “Normcore finds liberation in being nothing special, and realizes that adaptability leads to belonging.” Even though I’m still not 100% sure on what this means (arggh, and university was so expensive!), what I’m talking about here is different (I think.)

It doesn’t entail wearing acid-wash jeans or dickies, though it may mean slipping back into those Red Tag Levis if you’ve still got them tucked away (and I know you do), because they look great.

No, what I’m describing here is a trendless life. Being unselfconscious in a society that’s gone uber-conscious. For the sake of argument, let’s call it trendlessness. I’m not expecting you to throw on blue jeans and grab a slice at Greco’s if that’s not you. Back in the day we ate blintzes because that’s what our bubbies served us and they were straight-up delicious. Now I fear blintz eating could be viewed as a purposeful “throw back” or hipsteresque nostalgia topped with thick cut house-cured maple bacon; and that’s no good.

Trendlessness is not about harkening back to simpler times and wearing oversized sweatshirts and platform running shoes

For trendlessness is not about harkening back to simpler times and wearing oversized sweatshirts and platform running shoes (even though I would personally love that), because a return to the ’80s isn’t what I’m after. What I want is to not line up for everything new. And it’s not just about food and fashion, either. There are so many great things to see and do that we cast aside during the chase for the latest and greatest. Think: The St. Lawrence Market, beachcombing in P.E.I., surfing in Tofino, car camping on Saltspring Island, picking out some primo finds at the Aberfoyle Antique Market, skating on the Rideau Canal, Saturday afternoon drunken singalongs at Halifax’s the Lower Deck, skating at Nathan Philips Square, leaf-peeping on New Brunswick’s Fundy Trail or even renting a hard-to-find title at Suspect Video. Remember bowling and Go-Karting? Sure, some of us do, but not enough. And why don’t we? Where did it all go sideways? As usual, I blame technology and globalization.

Let’s travel back in time to the early 2000s, when we didn’t eat to tweet. iPhones were still on the horizon and Facebook, YouTube and Instagram were light years away. We spoke on the phone to our heartsick friends instead of texting them, and danced at parties instead of playing Dance Dance Revolution at home (though, admittedly, that’s pretty fun too). Also, now everyone’s suddenly eating dinosaur kale and red quinoa. (What’s up with that?)

I am right there beside you, tweeting my charred shishito peppers and grilled octopus

Let it be known that while I may not be the most fashion-forward person on the block, I’m a food writer and part-time trendspotter, so I do need to know what’s what and am right there beside you, tweeting my charred shishito peppers and grilled octopus.

Yet at the YMCA I’m wondering why, even here, do I need the latest Lululemons to fit in? For the above photo I’m wearing exactly what I’d wear to a workout (minus my proper running shoes) and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it.

I’m not about giving up on trends, or life. This outfit is about jogging. While it’s true that I’m usually the most underdressed person at any given function, that’s just me. It’s not about purposely being casual, it’s about not loving to shop, it’s about already having more than I need, and it’s about how a well-worn shirt makes me feel.

My brother says what I’m describing here, trendlessness, is basically people who live outside of major city centres, and there’s some truth to that. I was recently in Gander and needed a quick lunch before getting on the ferry, and sure enough, I found Lilly’s Landing Family Restaurant, in the same strip mall where I ate cod and chips a decade ago. It hadn’t changed — and by that I mean, it was just as good.

Life moves faster in the city, we know this. I love getting a new sweater now and then, and trying out all the latest restaurants. It keeps life exciting and it opens the mind. So I guess what I’m really saying is, EVERYONE JUST CALM DOWN.

P.S. This isn’t an invitation for Normcores to start invading my favourite pizza joints.

Bop · 2014-04-03 00:22:53

From not caring, to caring and back again all within a few years. God it's tough to keep up with these people. I bet you some people have already started caring again just in this last week. Christ, what do I do? Care or not care? Arrrrgh

Bop · 2014-04-03 00:26:43

Moose Maclennan · 2014-04-03 00:51:29

I'd hoped this might be a resurgence of the smart Anthony Perkins Psycho look.

4F Hepcat · 2014-04-03 02:29:30

This speaks volumes: "embracing sameness deliberately as a new way of being cool, rather than striving for 'difference' or 'authenticity,"

I find the use of "cool" in that sentence vulgar and so far removed from the meaning of the word as to be yet another example of the ever encroaching newspeak and dumbing down telling us to conform and be good obedient and passive citizen drones.

prince nez · 2014-04-03 03:14:24

How does this relate to the Uber phenomenon - the precursor to the hipster? Essentially you spend thousands of dollars on designer shite like a $400 plain white T shirt of average quality, in an attempt to look like you spent no time or money on your outfit.

This was de rigeur for the trust fund kids in Sydney in the early 2000s. Not sure how similar it is to normcore, eg if the latter involves actually spending less on clothes rather than spending a fortune to look like you spend less on clothes...

Bop · 2014-04-03 05:04:02

It's a brutal type of logic.

doghouse · 2014-04-03 05:54:16

This was being debated somewhere else recently. What a load of shit.

formby · 2014-04-03 13:12:02

Bop · 2014-04-03 14:44:07

doghouse · 2014-04-04 07:24:26

http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/apr/04/chelsea-strikers-jose-mourinho-stamford-bridge-psg?CMP=twt_gu

Footy normcore.

Worried Man · 2014-04-04 07:33:03

I hate it when I come to the forum and get angry. That's NOT WHY I COME HERE!!

Chévere · 2014-04-09 19:19:31

Bref, comme Vincent Glad a lui même dit au premier article cité: "Qu'a t-on appris au final? Pas grand-chose"

#1 2014-04-02 23:32:27

Le normcore

#2 2014-04-02 23:35:18

Re: Le normcore

#3 2014-04-02 23:40:51

Re: Le normcore

#4 2014-04-02 23:42:34

Re: Le normcore

#5 2014-04-02 23:46:10

Re: Le normcore

#6 2014-04-03 00:22:53

Re: Le normcore

#7 2014-04-03 00:26:43

Re: Le normcore

#8 2014-04-03 00:51:29

Re: Le normcore

#9 2014-04-03 02:29:30

Re: Le normcore

#10 2014-04-03 03:14:24

Re: Le normcore

#11 2014-04-03 05:04:02

Re: Le normcore

#12 2014-04-03 05:54:16

Re: Le normcore

#13 2014-04-03 13:12:02

Re: Le normcore

#14 2014-04-03 14:44:07

Re: Le normcore

#15 2014-04-04 07:24:26

Re: Le normcore

#16 2014-04-04 07:33:03

Re: Le normcore

#17 2014-04-09 19:19:31

Re: Le normcore

Board footer