Discover the erogenous theory and learn how you can make it work to your advantage.  By Mughni Che Din

I’m sure you are already scratching your head wondering “What are erogenous zones? and how it impacts the way I dress?” 

The erogenous zone is a theory coined by fashion historian James Laver (1899-1975) in the ‘30s, which implies “emphasis in dress tends to shift from one erogenous zone of the body to another," To put it layman’s term, it refers to any part of your body that arouses sexual responses from a potential partner.

For example, if a woman wears a crop top, the abdomen or the waist is in focus; and if they are wearing a miniskirt, the legs are highlighted, and so on— you get the idea. According to Laver, the erogenous zones goes through a cycle which lasts around seven years before it moves on to another part of the body, and plays a role for the shifts in fashion trends.

Fast forward to the 21^st century, the erogenous zones concept has evolved beyond the idea of a woman dressing-up to arouse or attract a partner. Today, woman exposing their erogenous zones could also be a form of female empowerment, communication or self-expression. 

Here are some examples on how you could highlight your erogenous zones this season:

LEGS FOR DAYS

Legs are probably the erogenous zone that most women feel most comfortable to expose. If you think this is for you, consider high-waisted shorts and pair it with a graphic tee, tucked in, to make you look tall and lean.

CROP TILL YOU DROP

Another erogenous zone that is gaining popularity is the midriff as belly-baring ensembles emerged as one of the biggest trends at the recent fashion week. The look, however, is much more sophisticated and elegant compared to the bandeaus in the ‘90s. Just a sliver of skin and not baring it all.

UP IN ARMS

Time to flaunt those arms (and underarms) as they are also one of the hottest erogenous zones on the human body. Whether you opt for sleeveless top or dress, keep the pieces modern and chic to avoid looking frumpy and unkept.

What are your thought on the erogenous zone theory? Does it resonate with you, or do you dress for yourself and not to attract the attention for a potential partner?

With origins that dates back to the 34^th century BCE, back then, the bad were used by labourers as a convenient way to carry their tools. Fast forward to today, the bag has gone through numerous transformations and is now officially labelled fashionable. Whether cinched at the waist, over the shoulder or crossbody, this accessory is perfect to toughen up any look.

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Break the rules of fashion and create showstopping ensembles by mastering the art of avant-garde dressing. By Mughni Che Din

WHAT IS AVANT-GARDE FASHION?

Avant-garde is considered as one of the most biggest artistic movements, it taps all fields of expression, from art to music, to fashion, in a way that goes against the norms through continuous experimentation and reinvention. The best way to describe avant-garde fashion is “A forward-looking movement led by innovative designers and artists who dare to go against the mainstream and introduce fresh ideas that stands out for the conventional.” Avant-garde fashion is usually translated through constant deconstruction and reinterpretation. 

AVANT-GARDE VS HAUTE COUTURE

People often mistake avant-garde for haute couture (and vice versa). The difference between avant-garde and haute couture is evident from the name as haute couture literally means high-end tailoring or dressmaking in French and is synonymous with luxurious, often intricate designs, produced by the world’s biggest fashion houses (Think Chanel, Christian Dior and Iris Van Herpen). Haute couture does not necessarily go against the grain, but rather to craft highly conceptualized designs-- which is the complete opposite to ready-to-wear designs. On the other hand, avant-garde designs are considered ready-to-wear and are accessible to everyone and features innovatie details, colours, textures, shapes, or silhouettes--catered especially for bon vivant fashion enthusiasts.

HOW TO DRESS IN AVANT-GARDE FASHION

 There are no rules when it comes to avant-garde fashion. However, you will need to be courageous and bold when putting an avant-garde ensemble together. Here are some pointers that could help you make this style work IRL:

1. MIX & MATCH

Consider remixing a variety of fabrics, cuts, textures and accessories to achieve that coveted avant-garde look. Experimentation is one of the essential values of the avant-garde movement and it is the only way to create innovative designs and achieve bold, inventive style combinations.

2. THINK  DRAMA

Avant-garde fashion is all about telling a story through your look. Think of your body as a blank canvas, so conceptualize your look in a creative manner to ensure that every element is part of the story: from your clothes, accessories, make-up and even your attitude. 

3. TURN UP THE VOLUME

Opt for modern cuts, with voluminous geometric structures, asymmetric hemlines, or even exaggerated ruffles and pleats, if that fits your personal style. As previously mentioned, the idea of avant-garde fashion is not to showcase the body, in the way that mainstream fashion does, but rather to make an object of art out of it, through the sculptural elements of the garments.

4. LAYER UP

The best tool you can incorporate to achieve a killer avant-garde ensemble is layering. Play with different textures and find contrasting combinations, but avoid mixing materials that are too contrasting. Remember, it’s all in the details. 

What is utilitarian style?

The term ‘utilitarian’ in menswear is used to describe clothes or accessories that has one overarching design feature— functionality. Some of the key features for this style is structure and workwear-inspired details such as flap pockets, self-tie wraps, tabs, d-rings and buckles.

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Anna Wintour once said, “Fashion is a reflection of the times.” Her sentiment rings true as the world continues to battle the deadly Covid-19 virus; and consumers leans towards home and comfy wear. And nothing screams comfort than a pair of roomy palazzo pants

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EARTH TONES ARE THE NEW BLACK

After years dominated by loud graphics, logomania and outrageous prints, the rediscovery of a more muted, clean and polished imagery, is made up of all the simple and clean silhouettes in the both warm and cold natural palette. 

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The best part of this trend, though, is that you can start working it into your wardrobe today, thanks to bow-decked pieces from A-JANE that are available in store or online. Give the Autumn/Winter ’21  runway phenomenon a test-run this season— you will knot be disappointed

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Fashion is a growing industry, and with the increase in demand for affordable, fast fashion is taking a toll on the environment. With sustainability being a “hot button” topic, some brands are making necessary change to reduce environmental impacts through innovation, using alternative eco-friendly and exercising ethical business practice. However, the burden of responsibility should not rest solely on the fashion brands, in order to make fashion more sustainable, both consumers and the industry must work together. 

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To fuel your very own red carpet fantasy, we have crafted a show stopping style mood board that will hopefully serve as an inspiration for your upcoming gala event.

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All clothing sends a message, whether we intend it to or not. It communicates every aspect of an individual. In order for people to respond to us the way we want, we must understand how our clothing is a representation of who we are and what we convey through what we wear. After all, fashion is free speech and one of the pleasures of a free world. So, what does your clothes say about you?

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