FASHION WORLD: 04/29/22

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Friday, April 29, 2022

The Mary Jane Platform Trend Is Lugging Its Way Into Spring

Flash-fashion events are like lightning, only lasting a hot second before disappearing into the seasonal ether — but even such fleeting fads can leave a lasting mark. Welcome to Micro Trends, where we explore the latest and greatest of these blink-and-you’ll-miss-them style moments.

We have officially stomped our way into a new guard of footwear: the Mary Jane platform. She’s chunky and she’s tough, and she’s also sweet and demure — but on her own terms and in her own twisted way. You could say the mary jane lugsole is the fitting lovechild between 2021’s two biggest shoe trends — the ballet flat and the chunky loafer — and it’s no surprise that fashion folks are clamoring for these strapped-and-stacked shoes. Not only do they instantly Y2K-ify any look with that late ’90s sky-high flatform construction, but they also make whatever you’re wearing a tad playful and girly. (But not too girly.) And, judging from the wide variety of styles out there, this ladylike platform is rising to new heights for spring.

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“Grown-up” Mary Janes are nothing new — designer heel brands like Carel or the French dance-wear brand Repetto have been buckled into this aesthetic long before the “tomboy Lolita” look emerged this year. Street style icons like Alexa Chung have also been repping the doll-like shoe for years. But, what sets these new wave of Mary Janes apart from their more modest predecessors is their decidedly rugged girth and almost anti-heel ethos, led by the likes of Nicole Saldaña and even longtime trend-driven footwear imprint Jeffrey Campbell. In other words, we’re seeing bottom-heavy soles giving off the same energy as your most deeply treaded combat boots. These are shoes that can, and should, be proudly worn down to the ground. The uppers are supremely refined and tough, as well — wide straps, substantial hardware, and a polished leather finish. Ahead, we round up some of our favorite chunky Mary Janes made for stomping your best foot forward this spring.

Marni Black Mary Jane Oxfords, $780

A doll’s take on the ’90s combat boot.

Circus by Sam Edelman Emelia Mary Jane Loafer, $110 $49.97

Snatch these girly lugsoles while they’re half off at Nordstrom Rack.

ASOS DESIGN Matchstick Chunky Mary Jane Flat Shoes, $50

An under-$100 option stacking impressive height.

Reformation Abalonia Chunky Maryjane, $248

Also available in black, white, and leopard print.

Jeffrey Campbell Piper Platform Mary Janes, $198

It’s only fitting that long-in-the-game chunky shoe brand Jeffrey Campbell has got the mary jane platform on lock.

Urban Outfitters Indie Mary Jane, $69

This highly rated shoe on Urban Outfitters has “the perfect amount of chunk,” according to one lugsoled reviewer.

MM6 MAISON MARGIELA Black Mary Jane Wedges, $525

Want more “heel” but without any actual heel? Cut yourself a thick wedge.

Intentionally Blank Veronica Khaki, $199

Talk about a mary jane that has some traction.

AOSPHIRAYLIAN Gothic Lolita Shoes Platform Mary Janes, $30.99

A double strap means quadruple the fun. (Check out the product page on Amazon for 19 other stellar options, all at a $30 price point.)

Free People Stella Mary Jane Platform Pump, $158

Boho fashion retailer Free People have gone rugged.

NICOLE SALDAÑA Nadia, $375

Don’t sleep on the long-awaited restock of this best-selling Nicole Saldaña mary jane.

Charles and Keith Frankie Patent Platform Mary Janes, $66

A little patent leather shine goes a long way.

At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. All product details reflect the price and availability at the time of publication. If you buy or click on something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.

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So How Is It Really? Wearing The Micro Mini Skirt Trend IRL

Thanks to brands like Miaou and Miu Miu, the micro mini skirt is one of the defining trends of 2022. Ever since the Y2K trend appeared on the spring 2022 runways though, the main question has been: “How do you wear a skirt so short off the runway?” As a conservative dresser who has asked this herself on several occasions, I set out to find out.

I knew it wouldn’t be an easy feat. (Even Refinery29’s fashion director seemed shocked when I pitched the story a few weeks ago.) I’ve always preferred wide-leg pants, blazers, and maxi dresses to crop tops, shorts, and mini skirts. Throughout college, I’d often find myself arguing with my mom over my outfit before a night out. It went something like this: “You’re young, wear a short skirt to the club,” she would say, to which I’d respond with a serious face asking her to respect my choice to wear a button-up blouse that (looking back) was more suited for a corporate meeting than a night out.

This wasn’t always the case, though. Back in the early 2000s, when I was a cheerleader in elementary school, mini skirts were my thing. I adored wearing the flouncy style with crop tops to dance in my school’s volleyball tournaments, and wore the skort counterparts to practice our choreography and stunts every day after class. But after quitting cheerleading at the age of 12, the mini skirt fell out of my everyday routine, and eventually out of my wardrobe. But if there was a moment to time travel to my cheerleading days, 2022 seems the perfect time.

Fittingly, I got to test the Miaou micro mini skirt for my cousin’s week-long wedding festivities in Las Vegas in March. I decided to wear it to her bachelorette party, which was more of a tame dinner than a crazy night out, but still merited the obligatory “ready to party” outfit. When I told my cousin that I’d planned to sport a mini skirt, she didn’t take me seriously. “Oh, you were not kidding,” she said a few hours later when I walked up to her outside the hotel.

For the rest of the night, I wished it had been a joke. Even though I wore sheer tights underneath, I kept tugging my skirt down, trying to cover my derriere, aware of the looks I got from the men at the casino. Later, when we met up with the rest of the family, I was met with a different set of looks. “Did you ask your boyfriend permission to wear that?” my aunt asked.

At this point, I realized that my initial reservations over the micro mini skirt were not unfounded. Back in October, when the now-viral Miu Miu set debuted, I was skeptical of just how much we had progressed in our society to allow for this trend to come back in a healthier, freer way. The body standards set by the early 2000s diet culture and the popularity of the ultra-thin celebrities largely responsible for the trend’s fame hadn’t changed much. Neither did the politics attached to a woman wearing a short skirt without being questioned or, worse, shamed for it. “I don’t need anyone’s permission to wear whatever I want,” I responded to my aunt’s question. Still, later that night, I packed the Miaou skirt back into my suitcase feeling conflicted.

Back home, I felt the need to go back to a time when I loved wearing the mini skirt to try understand what had appealed so much to me about it. I unearthed some of my cheerleading tapes from the early 2000s. There I was: sporting pigtails, carrying pom-poms, and dancing confidently without a care in the world. While arbitrary fashion rules tell us to let go of our inner children — baby tees, twee silhouettes, tutu skirts — to step into adulthood, I refuse to think that I had fully let go of the fashion that used to make me feel happy. It was enough for me to give the trend a second try.

This time, I opted for a skirt that mimicked my cheerleading uniform: a white pleated mini skirt from ASOS. Although I didn’t wear any tights underneath, I chose to go more modest on the top with a striped long-sleeve shirt and a black blazer. It was the perfect mash-up of my personalities — an adult with conservative aesthetic and an inner child willing to have fun with fashion. I strutted around Manhattan confidently, listening to Rosalía’s Motomami album, one that celebrates the power of contradiction and transformation — embracing the juxtaposing nature of my outfit.

The micro mini skirt might not be my look ever again (who knows?). But, as I attempted to squeeze it into my closet, I discovered that there is a way to welcome back this trend, even if you didn’t agree with it the first time around and still have conflicted feelings about it. And that’s by doing it your way.

At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.

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Digital Fashion Is Booming — Here’s How To Shop It

Over the past few years, fashion’s transition into the digital landscape has rapidly accelerated. Earlier this year, the industry celebrated the first-ever Metaverse Fashion Week, and designers have also jumped on the Web 3.0 transition to showcase their IRL collections. Thanks to the fast-growing communities in gaming and the metaverse, digital clothing looks poised to become just another part of our ever-evolving wardrobe.

“I think it is in a really unique place of growth and transformation,” says Simone Berry, 5Crypto’s chief strategist and innovation director. “There’s a mind shift happening where people are understanding that clothing doesn’t have to be physical to be valuable.”

Digital clothing platforms have developed unique ways for people to interact with fashion online, from buying wearables to investing in non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Take, for example, DressX, a marketplace where people can buy digital clothing that can be superimposed over real-life photos; or The Fabricant, where those interested in NFTs can create and shop for them using cryptocurrency. Whichever way you go about it, one thing is clear: you’re not alone in wanting to buy digital fashion. A recent study, titled “The Screenwear Paper,” by Virtue, the in-house insights agency at Vice Media Group (Refinery29’s parent company) revealed that 95% of those surveyed say they are interested in buying digital fashion.

Before you open your blockchain wallet or try on some digital clothes, read through Berry’s answers to a few key questions worth considering prior to building your Web 3.0 wardrobe.

What Is Digital Fashion?

Digital fashion is still in development, according to Berry. So it’s important to note that not all digital fashion is created equal. There is a vast difference between digital wearables, which are clothes that an avatar — also known as your digital twin — can sport inside a game or a metaverse platform, and fashion NFTs, which are limited collectibles bought through cryptocurrency. There is also the option of buying digital clothes that can be superimposed over real-life photos of you.

While these options are not available to wear in the real world, Berry says that’s one of the main attractors for people. “Let’s be honest; most of us are wearing clothes nowadays to flex,” she says. “So with technology, you can still wear it, you can still flex.”

Digital fashion is also known for being edgier than real-life clothing. Due to physical limitations, designers are often forced to stay within a certain creative margin when designing IRL. But when clothes are made digitally, it’s a different story. “I personally feel like it’s more futuristic,” says Berry. “It’s a fantasy and designers obviously are drawn to that.”

How Do I Buy Digital Fashion?

There are two types of transactions when it comes to buying digital fashion: “on-chain” and “off-chain.” For “on-chain” transactions, Berry says that users are required to open a cryptocurrency wallet inside the platform, so the clothing can become a digital asset for them to own. For “off-chain” transactions, users can pay with a regular credit card.

“[The Web3 community] all accepted that it’s going to be a much longer educational map before everyone is going to be ready to adopt it,” says Berry.

Where Do I Buy Digital Fashion?

Digital fashion marketplaces are one of the best ways to get in the game. Take, for example, Zero10, a platform where you can try on digital clothes, make purchases, and use them to create social media content. There’s also DressX, which allows you to upload real life photos for the clothes you purchase to be imprinted on. Other marketplaces, like The Dematerialised, are focused on selling fashion NFTs, which are stored on your digital wallet, making them a traceable asset.

These platforms have a wide set of clothing available, from digital-first houses, like The Fabricant and Auroboros, to NFTs created by IRL-first designers like Rebbeca Minkoff and Jonathan Simkhai.

“The greatest thing about Web3 is that it’s about collaboration,” Berry says. “It’s not about just selling things. It’s about creating something for your community.”

How Much Does Digital Fashion Cost?

One of the most attractive features of digital fashion, according to Berry, is its affordability. While many of early digital fashion drops were auctioned off for thousands of dollars — The Fabricant’s first-ever drop sold for over $9,000 — today digital fashion is becoming more affordable. Berry also points out that consumers should look at affordability in this space in two categories: fashion NFTs and digital wearables. “If it’s an NFT and it’s a certain collaboration that’s very different, it can be more expensive,” she says.

But digital wearables can be more accessible. On DressX, T-shirts can go for $14 and pants for $20, while on Replicant, the same items can go for as low as $6. If you’re looking to add some couture-level drama to your digital wardrobe, there are options more affordable than IRL clothing, too. Take Tribute Brand, a digital-first couture house that operates on limited-edition drops, which has voluminous, sci-fi dresses going for $150.

While digital clothing is still in its infancy, Berry says that there are exciting innovations happening in this space that will allow consumers to interact with fashion in other ways beyond wearability. “We’re trying new things. Nothing is set,” she says.

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A Case For Wearing Red & Pink, The Color Combo Everyone Loves To Hate

According to antiquated fashion rules none of us should subscribe to, there are some colors combinations that should never be worn together. Navy blue and black, for example, are often regarded as ugly because (gasp!) they look too similar. Or, purple and green, which is often compared to a certain TV fictional dinosaur who insists we’re a happy family. Yet no color combo is more villanized than pink and red.

It’s the signature combo of Valentine’s Day, with millions of cheesy cards, giant plush toys, and chocolate boxes bearing the scarlet-and-blush combo, all exchanged by people wearing some version of this two-tone formula in the name of love, friendship, and a possible Tinder date.

Despite it being a color combo that everyone loves to hate, it has long captivated the fashion zeitgeist, with designers and celebs giving the Strawberry Shortcake-approved combination some justice. Back in 2017, Emma Roberts wore a red gown with a pink fur stole by Diane von Fürstenberg to the Met Gala. Later, in 2019, celebs, including Mandy Moore in Brandon Maxwell and Taraji P. Henson in Vera Wang, made headlines for wearing pink-and-red outfits at the Emmy Awards. This year, though, even more designers seem keen on giving the color combo their definite stamp of approval — shushing the haters once and for all.

Take, for example, the Giambattista Valli spring 2022 lineup, which included a white feather dress featuring pink and red embellishments, paired with crimson sunglasses. Then, there was Portuguese brand Marques’ Almeida, which showed a brighter version of the color combo, in the form of a poplin, asymmetrical pink dress with an attached crossbody red sleeve, as well as a pink slip dress with a scarlet button-down shirt underneath.

Meanwhile, Blumarine showcased a pre-fall 2022 collection full of red-and-pink looks. A light pink stretchy dress with an asymmetrical hemline was paired with shiny red boots, while the reverse happened in a separate outfit. There were also red sweaters, paired with pink cargo pants (yes, the type that Regina George would approve of for Wednesdays!), as well flower chokers and fluffy bags in the color palette. And there’s nothing gimmick-y or juvenile about this full-fledged berry embrace.

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While the long-standing rule for colorblocking used to be that opposing shades in the color wheel (think: blue and orange or green and purple) were the best way to mix shades, brands and consumers are waking up to the idea of contrasting sister shades. And we’re realizing that we’ve been wasting time following unspoken rules for the sake of appearances.

To get in on this trend (and skip all the rules!), wear one garment that blends the both colors, as opposed to pairing two separate, contrasting pieces for a more minimalist look. Or, better yet, go with a monochrome red look with subtle hints of pink — be it a Y2K-ready flower choker or dainty rose sandals.

Get ready for the pink-and-red takeover with the styles below.

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A Tribute To The Best Met Gala Looks Of All Time

It's the last Friday in April, and in the fashion world, there is ample anticipation for the Met Gala to return to its usual set date: the first Monday in May. This year, attendees are expected to turn in their finest Gilded Age-inspired outfits (the night's theme is Gilded Glamour!) to mark the opening of the Met Museum's exhibition In America: An Anthology Of Fashion, the second part of last year's showing.

But even as we look into a more normal future, we can still take inspiration from some of the Met Gala’s biggest fashion moments. To do so, we’re taking a trip down memory lane, re-visiting some of our all-time favorite Met Gala looks, from Kate Moss’s Marc Jacobs golden mini dress circa 2009 to Cardi B’s regal Moschino gown from 2018. Don’t worry, SJP and Alexander McQueen in matching tartan, Naomi Campbell in glittering Versace, and Kim Kardashian in Thierry Mugler’s first original design in 20 years also made the cut.

So prepare to be amazed by the ethereal looks that have garnered attention every year since the first Costume Institute Benefit in 1948. Click on for our list of the best Met Gala looks of all time.