A Continued Conversation On “Timeless” Fashion: Is The Concept Still Relevant?
In our last article on timeless fashion, we discussed the concept's historical origins and fluid definitions. Anything from quality craftsmanship to functionality can determine whether an item keeps appearing throughout the seasons, and even personal opinions can play a role in whether or not a garment lasts. To get an informed perspective on the evolving side of timeless garments, we continued our conversation with the luminous archivist and designer Raiden Francis of TheRaidenCo.
To Raiden, a piece doesn’t have to be considered timeless only because of its historical relevance. A garment can be personally timeless, too. “I gravitate towards pieces that still feel relevant, still feel alive, and stand the test of time because they are constantly living rent free in my mind,” he says.
Personally timeless garments often stay relevant to us for a long period of time, that doesn’t mean they’re here forever. Raiden offers up lingerie as an example. While this beautifully feminine category has been timeless throughout the last 80 years, recently the category began to feel dated to him. “I had this Chloe 1998 cami top. It was beautiful. It had a button loop closure all the way down the side and the most detailed buttons with doves engraved into them. It just recently sold for a little over a thousand dollars, but I had this up for sale in my shop for over five years, and it started to feel very outdated to me. People did not want to commit to actually wearing this piece on a regular basis,” he says.
While the piece lacked in functionality, Francis says it isn’t usually the garment to blame for falling out of time, but a changing society. As our world becomes increasingly focused on fast fashion and fleeting trends, it might be making us lose sight of something very important: the art of dressing. People used to spend hours doing their hair, makeup, and putting together an outfit all before the sun. Now,many of us keep the same outfits in rotation and gravitate toward trendy items that have already been styled for us.
“We don't play dress up anymore. That's what I'm realizing. And it's like, hello? We're still children at heart,” Raiden says. “We still gravitate toward these things because they catch our eye the same way that something did as a child. We need to be more playful with our clothing.”
This is a practice Raiden already does himself, which he says invites childlike joy and creativity back into his life. “I invite my friends over sometimes to play dress up. I'm like, I bought a shit ton of clothes and I need to see them on true humans and not a mannequin, so let's play dress-up for the night. Let's drink some good freaking wine and just see where these outfits take us. I just find it so appealing. There's truly art in this and it is being lost over time.”
While some people might play their own version of dress-up online, such as in get-ready-with-me videos, Raiden stresses the importance of making sure we’re doing these projects for ourselves and not for others. Because honestly, the most timeless, and admittedly cheesy, concept of all is trusting yourself and owning your personal style. “I think we're more concerned about appearing to be more timeless, but I think we are also becoming more timeless simply because our digital footprint will live on. People are more concerned about how their appearance looks and wearing more appealing outfits to the masses. I feel like that's why our trend cycles are so up and down, way more than ever before, simply because we're trying to appeal to a niche community more than ever,” he says.
“Your personal style really comes from within. You have to live in order to figure out what you truly like and what you don't like.” For that, Raiden has a personal example. “I wear an Emporio Armani knitted silk shirt almost every single time I go out. It's not because I like the way it looks on me strictly, but also because I used to see a lot of men in the nineties wear it, and I was like, oh, that is like the epitome of style. I go for that look because my history makes me wear that.”
For those hoping to curate a more personal wardrobe, Raiden is an excellent resource. He sources his garments not based on what’s in trend, but what he feels is truly beautiful. “I've always gravitated toward pieces that have a quality of seduction towards them or held an importance to me personally. That’s what I make sure I collect or I end up purchasing.”
Aside from his archive, Raiden also has a line of his very own. “I currently have a line of leather accessories, handbags, and shoes, which are already up for purchase online. I am also coming out with my made-to-measure, ready-to-wear line, which will consist of dresses, wool coats, and furs.”
“I love luxury as it is, and what I'm trying to exude within my line is more sophistication and pure feminine allure. I think once again, the art of luxury, the art of dressing, is being lost. The art of just living your life to the fullest is being lost on our digital footprint, just because we're trying to live so much online that we're losing the true meaning of living in life. So I'm really trying to bring back luxury. Sophistication. A night out. What happened to a great glass of champagne, a limbo, a fabulous dress, and a great party? I think we're all very stuck in our phones and appearances.”
How does he hope to achieve his goal? By crafting well-made garments that allow people to effortlessly exude timelessness. “I really hope that I'll be able to make an item that you lose yourself within the night just because you know how good you look. You know it fits right. You don't have to open up your camera because you know everything is sitting exactly where it needs to be, just because the garment is made for you.”
“Hopefully, we're in Vogue.” (For reference, he already is.)
Follow Raiden @TheRaidenCo for updates on his upcoming collection, and check out his current line and archive on his website.
