So with 2013 wrapping up and all, it’s been yet another interesting year in Egypt. As you already know, the style aspect here is not the best in the world – we, as Egyptians, manage to butcher the fashion industry yearly. Here are the five worst fashion trends to hit our streets in 2013.
1. Every girl and her nana is a designer.
Open your Facebook now and I’m sure you’ll find at least two or three invites to like pages with names like “Lolo’s jewelry” or “Accessories by mizo” or “Nany’s home designs”. With the saturation in the baking business (cupcakes, cheesecakes, etc.), desperate daddy’s girls are making their life more interesting by calling themselves designers.
Since clothing actually requires some effort, most of these “designers” stick to the women’s and home accessories categories. The hilarious part is the prices – why would I pay 500 EGP for a plastic piece of crap, basically? Talk about predictability, they all seem to follow this mini guide to being a “designer”: spikes, calligraphy and neon colors.
Disclaimer: There are talented, authentic designers – some of them are even my friends. These are the ones you will find standing out of the crowd.
2. The copying system
This one is something we, as Egyptians, excel in – in fact, it’s not the first year and it’s not going to be the last. On New Year’s Eve, I didn’t see a single girl not incorporating peplum, studs or lace in her outfit. There is a difference between being fashionable and being a fashion slave, especially when the trend doesn’t compliment your body shape.
3. All fashion blogs post the same things.
I know I started my blog in 2013 as well, so I promise I’m making fun of myself, too. Bloggers, including myself, sometimes get caught up in these moments of, “My blog is, like, bigger than anything else” … Ummm, no.
The social media attempts of “fashion” blogs following everybody and constantly asking them to like their page is just getting out of control.
Some of these style blogs are either failing at imitating fustany.com or copying stuff off the internet randomly.
I look at “street style” pages and am left wondering how a hijabi girl in leggings and a tunic is supposed to be inspiring?
4. When trends trickle down the social hierarchy
Summer 2013 was the festival of neon and spikes in Sa7el and Zamalek, then we – thank God – went back to our minds. I honestly thought I had seen the worst of the spikes trend when I was scared of hugging people with spiked shoulders.
The actual problem occurred when these trends trickled down to the real streets of Egypt and the yearly disastrous fashion show, aka eid el fetr, happened. The neon was blinding and the spikes were scary. It was even more terrifying seeing the two trends mixed on one outfit. Next step was the ultimate blend of both: spikes that were actually neon colored.
5. Taking the wrong side of global trends
Mini skirts and short dresses were never meant to have chubby thighs squeezed inside them with a pair of “Crystal” nylons.
I know that thick brows are trendy, however what is going on with the marker-like brows everywhere? Our desire to look like Lebanese chicks is understandable, but it is so weird to have eyebrows in a dark felomaster color and – for the record – it doesn’t look Lebanese at all.
By the way, UGG Australia does produce designs others than their infamous boots. Don’t get me wrong, because they are comfortable, but I’m sure they were meant for keeping our toesies warm in winter weather and not this unexplainable craze that’s produced knockoffs (and even originals) with sequins on them. Who thought that would be a good idea?
And of course all the fake LVs and MKs. Not chic.
WE SAID THIS: These trends were hilariously horrendous. Moving on! Stay tuned for trends to look out for in 2014.