Fast Fashion Pros and Cons

Fast Fashion Pros and Cons

What is Fast Fashion?

Fast Fashion is inexpensive clothing that is produced to mass-market retailers in response to the latest trends. Retailers like Primark, H&M, ASOS and Boohoo.com churn out millions of tonnes of clothing each year to keep up with the ‘need to be new’.

This has been growing rapidly over the last 10-20 years with globalization being at the forefront and a drive from the Millennial and Gen-Z generations obsessed with having the newest trends before they’ve even hit the store.

Fast Fashion allows us to accommodate the world's passion for fashion at an affordable price but does come at a price.

The Pros to Fast Fashion?

With living in such a fast-paced world, Fast Fashion allows for more affordable clothing. The latest trends are sold to the masses, people get what they want and not have to wait around for anything as there are now so many retailers and brands to choose from, either in-store and online, with eCommerce becoming the biggest industry on the planet as the human race moves deeper into the digital era.

With clothing becoming so cheap people can get a new outfit each weekend to go out in, sometimes even cheaper than a round of drink at your local pub! This has moved people into the habit of buying something and only wearing it once, a throwaway cutler. It’s great for someone who doesn’t have the largest income (students/the youth) as they can still enjoy the thrill of spending and getting the new things when they want, and not have to spend an arm and a leg on it, allowing them to save in other areas of life.

The Cons of the Industry

With the colossal demand for these clothes and the rate at which people want them, the increased waste from this throwaway culture, we as a species have created, means that 100 billion garments each year go to landfill in countries a lot worse off than the people buying the clothes.

Places like the Far East and Southern Asia, where huge sweats shops that have been known to exploit workers, make these clothes are on barely a liveable wage in awful conditions to get the product quickly the consumer on a mass scale. More than 1,100 people died in the garment factory collapse in Bangladesh in 2014 forcing western retail to be more transparent about their supply chain.

In early 2018 designer brand Burberry admitted to burning over £30 million worth of stock instead of selling it off cheaply to protect the band's identity. This caused controversy in the fashion industry and it really made people stop and think as to what we can do to make this more environmentally friendly and stop this throwaway culture.

What we do here at Baggy Boys Co.

If you haven’t noticed yet we’re an online retro retailer specialising in the sale of 80’s and 90’s sportswear attire. Basically, we’re second-hand clothes shop on the internet.

We source clothing from all over the world that’s been in circulation for decades from huge warehouses with millions of tonnes of clothing it in, we find what we want, spruce it up and sell it to people who either have a passion for the era’s or want something you can’t get today, a form of garment recycling.

With the Fast Fashion Industry a major contribution to pollution and worker exploitation, we are proud to be part of the stand against these corporations! Even if we are a needle in the haystack to the issue, we’re doing our bit to help fight this global crisis and getting people some groovy retro items to rock at their next gig.

MET GALA 2016 : THE RED CARPET

MET GALA 2016 : THE RED CARPET

The first Monday of May marks an important date for the fashion industry: the annual Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala. The fanciest red carpet of the year, where guests (all personally invited by Vogue’s editor Anna Wintour, and wealthy enough to pay $25,000 for an individual ticket) are expected to dress according to a theme, that  traditionally reflects the latest luxurious exhibit of the Costume Institute. 

This year theme/exhibit is called “Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology”. An ambitious project aimed to explore the blurring line between handmade fashion and machine-made fashion: a tribute to the technological evolution of the fashion industry.

Therefore it is no surprise to see Apple as a sponsor of the event. 

Honorary chairs have been reserved to Karl Lagerfeld, Miuccia Prada and Nicolas Ghesquière; the host of the night was of course Anna Wintour, while this year’s co-hosts happened to be Apple's chief design officer Jonathan Ive, Taylor Swift and Idris Elba. 

All the biggest names in fashion and Hollywood gathered together in New York to strut on the red carpet, but who was the queen of the night? Which designer managed to stand out in the crowd? Any worst dressed?

Watch out stars & designers: if the dress is bad we would tell it!

Mark my words, because this is the most brutally honest review you will find on the internet: at #TEB we do not care about famous names or brands’ reputations, no one paid us to feature a specific opinion, so take a seat because it is going to be fun...

LITERAL HOMAGE TO THE THEME

Claire Danes in Zac Posen

To everyone thinking "so what, isn't this a typical Posen's design", well shut up. 

It glows in the dark!! 

Genius idea and amazing tailoring: Posen is definitely the go-to-designer when it comes to the MET.

Isn't this the look of the year?

BEST LOOKS OF THE NIGHT

Beyoncé in Givenchy

As you know I wasn't a fan of her naked "gown" last year, because to me it had nothing to do with the particular theme of the night. However I can't say the same about this year's latex number: I love it. It's daring, as her character, and might not feel comfortable, but the design is exquisite in my eyes. However let me state a fact: this is definitely one of those dresses that works only on specific people. Definitely not for everyone.

Zendaya in Michael Kors

This look oozes luxury from every angle: the design feels old school but the embellishment is a modern touch. The styling? A show-stopper.

Sienna Miller in Gucci

Given the night's theme, I was wondering how Gucci would have perfomed...Well, looking at this metallic gown on Sienna I would say: so good.

Katy Perry in Prada

Costumy, I agee. Especially the styling, but can we talk about the dress? It fits the theme to the bone.

Kate Hudson in Versace

As you will witness through this review, this will happen to be the only decent Versace gown of the entire event. Trust me.

Back to the dress, I like the construction and how it fits Kate, althought the styling could have been more dramatic.

Olivia Wilde in Michael Kors

Maternity style with an edge. Definitely old school in the design, but still a good choice for the gala.

Nicole Kidman in Alexander McQueen

Finally Ms Kidman wears something we can all agree on liking. Pure elegance.

OFF TOPIC, BUT STILL GOOD

Blake Lively in Burberry

It took me a while to appreciate this: the cape brings on all the drama, but was it enough? The handcraft was beautiful, indeed this blush pink silk-organza design counts hand-dyed and sewn perspex petals. However I didn't feel the futuristic vibe.

Nina Dobrev in Marchesa

A cute and elegant look. I am sure that at a closer look the embellishment would feel amazing, however with no 'wow effects' à la Zac Posen, this gown seems more appropriate for a 'Gone with the wind' revival.

Jessica Chastain in Prada

No sign of future, just classic yet exquisite details. Besides I still have to find a blue gown that doesn't do justice to Jessica's beauty.

Lea Seydoux in Louis Vuitton

The French actress made her official debut on the MET's red carpet wearing as expected a Louis Vuitton design, as she was recently announced as the new face of the historical brand.

However, I don't even know if we can consider this a gala-worthy look, though Lea oozes class and mistery. Besides, note that this is the only decent Louis Vuitton outfit of the night.

Emily Blunt in Michael Kors

How many times have we seen this design? Many. 

Luckily for Michael Kors, I am one of those who never gets tired to see it on a red red carpet.

Kate Bosworth in Dolce&Gabbana

A highly embellished look, no doubt, but I only like it from the waist-up.

Zoey Deutch in Dolce&Gabbana

A good living advertise for Dolce&Gabbana: out of theme, but it is impossible to call this not gala-worthy.

Zoe Saldana in Dolce&Gabbana

And the "Longest train award" goes to...Zoe!

Something tells me that with a shorter train, I wouldn't have paid attention to this look: not a fan, I know how to prise a drama-queen when I see one.

DID ANYONE PAY YOU TO WEAR THIS?

Taylor Swift in Louis Vuitton

So Anna Wintour spent Vogue's money to give Taylor Swift an extreme makeover, the May cover of the magazine, the title of co-host at the 2016 Met Gala...and a dress perfect for the VMA?

Not Impressed.

Kim Kardashian & Kanye West in Balmain

This Balmain/Kardashian/Jenner/West affair should come to an end. I am sure that MsD would have used more flattering words to describe this circus, I will try to emulate her.

Why forcing the styling that far? To keep the focus off the clothes?

Blue contacts, a questionable make up and denim on the MET gala's red carpet: reconsider your crush on Balmain, because ther is nothing appealing here.

Kylie Jenner in Balmain

A thousand times better than Kim Kardashian, but still plain.

Plus, the entire presentation aged this young girl of ten years.

Dakota Johnson in Gucci

Dakota Johnson and the new wave of Gucci designs are a match made in heaven...but not this time, and especially with futuristic theme.

Lupita Nyong'o in Calvin Klein

The dress is nothing special, even if I like the color on her skin. The hair represent a desperate move to make the dress feel relevant.

Emma Stone in Prada

This is a hard one, because everything looks beautiful, but I can't help myself from seeing this as a last minute design-idea. 

FKA Twigs in Versace

I would have never told that this was a Donatella Versace design...because basically there is no actual design, just ideas badly mixed together.

Saoirse Ronan in Christopher Kane

Ok those fluffy feathers are giving me nightmares...especially those on the hem. Christopher Kane would never be on my favourites list. 

Ciara in H&M

A questionable retro/goth styled wig and a nude tent. Nice catch CiCi.

Hailee Steinfeld in H&M

The styling is so cheap that it hurts, while the dress couldn't be less predictable.

Sarah Jessica Parker in Monse

As soon as I got a glimpse at SJP look I thought I was looking at a vintage red carpet photo. No way that this could be a recent red carpet look from the American actress. I was wrong. 

I have never thought that I would say this one day, but Sarah Jessica Parker totaly failed a Met Gala's theme.

Alicia Vikander in Louis Vuitton

I like Alicia Vikander for Louis Vuitton, but after seeing her awards season look, this one feels like a joke. 

It fits the theme, but not the gala.

NO

Selena Gomez in Louis Vuitton

Let's close the discussion on Louis Vuitton with the worst look ever presented at the gala. I am so sorry that Selena was the one choosen to wear it.

Kristen Stewart in Chanel

I would never understand Chanel's fascination for Kristen Stewart...

Kerry Washington in Marc Jacobs

I would love to copy and paste what I wrote about Sarah Jessica Parker here.

How could anyone style a beautiful pregnant woman like this?

Emma Watson in Calvin Klein

Emma Watson is known for her tastefull yet modern fashion sense. This time I feel like we are not ready to understand and appreciate this outfit.

It is just ugly.

Rachel McAdams in Valentino haute couture

I don't know how a Valentino design could be featured among the worst looks of the night. 

However there is nothing remotely appealing about this dress.

Rita Ora in Vera Wang

Among my few certainties in life comes Rita Ora featured in - as usual - the worst dressed list.

The girl has definitely a talent...

Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen in The Row

Should I really comment this?

Nicki Minaj in custom Moschino

Custom made: when a designer manufactures a one of a kind look for the customer.

In the fashion industry this is a form of respect and esteem to the client by the designer.

The problem is when the designer is called Jeremy Scott...

Zayn Malik in Versace

The most ridiculous man suit I have ever seen.

He might be Gigi's boyfriend, but doesn't he look like an accessory to his plus-one?

Lady Gaga in Versace

Let me resume the Versace's styling crescendo: Kate Hudson, FKA Twigs, Zayn Malik and now Lady Gaga.

Wow.

Madonna in Givenchy

For those who "Madonna will be always ahead of Lady Gaga", you are right.

written by: Stella

Coming up on #TEB

THE MET GALA's RED CARPET CONTINUES: 

WHAT DID THE MODELS WEAR? 

MET GALA 2016: What Did The Models Wear?

MET GALA 2016: What Did The Models Wear?

The 2nd of May 2016 was one of the most important days of the year for the fashion industry and for all the fashion lovers. It was the date of the annual Met Ball.

We have already picked our best and worst dressed celebrities here, and now it's time to focus on models... All of them! I think that models shouldn't be afraid to play with the themes of Gala, but unfortunately too many of them played safe or didn't consider the theme at all! This year's theme was "Manus x Machina: Fashion in the Age of Technology": let's see what models wore.

LOOKS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE THEME

BEST LOOKS

Karolina Kurkova in Marchesa

Karolina had the most beautiful and most appropriate dress of the night. Her "cognitive dress" was designed together by Marchesa (the manus) and an IBM cognitive computer system (the machina). The result of this partnership was a couture high-tech dress, covered with romantic flowers, embedded with colour changing LEDs. You can read more about the process that brought to life this breathtaking dress on the IBM's blog.

Anna Ewers in Hugo Boss

Anna looked extremely elegant in a bespoke embellished Hugo Boss gown.

Naomi Campbell in Roberto Cavalli

Naomi wore a Roberto Cavalli black silk lace dress, embroidered with beads and crystals. I am in love with the shape of the this gown, especially with the train skirt. I feel like this dress didn't get enough recognition.

Jourdan Dunn in Balmain

On the contrary, Balmain always gets more recognition than it deserves. However, this time I won't complain (too much), because Jourdan Dunn's dress was beautiful and appropriate.

MORE BALMAIN

Joan Smalls, Doutzen Kroes, Alessandra Ambrosio, Cindy Crawford in Balmain

I really liked Doutzen's white dress. It was elegant and not over embellished: a rarity for Balmain! I'm not sure if it suits the theme, though.

Joan, Alessandra and Cindy's metallic gowns reminded more of the theme, however Joan and Alessandra's dresses were just a silver version of Balmain's designs that we have already seen a million times. Dear Olivier, if you don't have enough inspiration to design five interesting dresses, then only bring one or two models at the Met Gala with you: I'm tired of seeing your same designs all the times! Thank you.

BOREDOM KINGDOM

Liu Wen in Iris Van Herpen

Liu chose the perfect designer for this year's theme: Iris Van Herpen. Unfortunately she didn't pick such an interesting dress. She could have done way better than this!

Gigi Hadid in Tommy Hilfiger

Gigi designed her dress together with Tommy Hilfiger. I think there is a reason why models aren't designers and it's because they would design dull clothes like this one. Anyways, I'm yet to find out why Gigi is a model.

Lara Stone in Tom Ford

I can't find much to say about this dress. It fits the theme and it's elegant, but it's nothing special.

Lily Aldridge in Michael Kors

Lily's make-up was on point, but what about the dress? I've seen this Micheal Kors gown too many times, and frankly it's not even that good.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in Ralph Lauren

It goes without saying that I was expecting more from Rosie. The dress and the make-up were too simple and safe. That's two years in a row that Rosie lets me down at the Met Gala!

MODELS WHO IGNORED THE THEME

BEST LOOKS

Karlie Kloss in Brandon Maxwell

One dress, three outfits: with the cape, without the cape and after a cut. Karlie always looked very elegant.

Miranda Kerr in Louis Vuitton

Unlike Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez, Alicia Wikander and  Grimezsz, Miranda wore a nice Louis Vuitton dress and styled it perfectly.

Adriana Lima in Giambattista Valli

Adriana looked stunning in a couture Giambattista Valli embellished gown, even thought it would have been nicer to see a custom made dress for this occasion.

Kate Upton in Topshop - Bella Hadid in Givenchy

Kate Upton impressed me with this extremely elegant Topshop outfit: well done! Bella's Givenchy gown was absolutely amazing, but those boots partially ruined the look.

Stella Maxwell and Maryna Linchuk in Topshop

When you are invited to a Gala to show off your outfit, but the photographers take no good photos of you...! I really wish I was able to see these two dresses better because they both seem very nice.

Andreea Diaconu and Vanessa Axente in Roberto Cavalli - Taylor Hill in Topshop

Andreea and Vanessa wore two beautiful gowns from the latest Roberto Cavalli collection, but they could have improved the styling. On the contrary, Taylor's dress was a bit too simple, but it gained points thanks to the accurate styling.

NOT GALA MATERIAL

Fei Fei Sun in Chanel - Ming Xi in Micheal Kors

Fei Fei Sun and Ming Xi would look sophisticated with anything, but this dresses are not enough for the Met Gala in addition to not fitting the theme.

Irina Shayk in Givenchy - Kendall Jenner in Atelier Versace

At least the two models above looked elegant... I can't say the same about Irina and Kendall!

Jessica Hart in Azzedine Alaia - Jamie Bochert in Marc Jacobs

It might even be Azzedine Alaia, but I still feel like the lace two pieces are a bit dated, as I've seen them so many times over the past years. There are other wrong things with Jessica's look: the styling doesn't work and that nude layer under the skirt looks terrible. Let's move to Jamie: I just don't see the beauty in her dress. And what are those fabric pieces that hang down?

Emily Ratajkowski in Prabal Gurung

The front of Emily's dress wasn't terrible, but the back looked unbelivably cheap! The mesh, the drape, the jewel on the dress are a big NO!

Written by: MsD