Rodarte SS2013

If you’re looking to invest in a trend that will never go out of style for long, fringe is a great go-to. The proof? Statues and sculptures from the period indicate that fringe has been intermittently on-trend since 3000 BCE, when the basic garments of Mesopotamia were adorned with fringe. If you were wealthy, you created strips in the hems of silk or cotton skirts and shawls; if you were poor, wool and linen got the same treatment.

Later, cowboys in the American West adopted the fringe trend for their leather garments. In the 1920s, a major fringe boom came with the popularity of the Charleston, a dance incomplete without a fringe-covered dress to show every movement. In the early 50s, Elvis Presley made fringed leather jackets a part of his uniform, as did the Hell’s Angels – granted, with more skulls and studs. The 60s took fringe from rocker staple to American Indian-inspired, as stars like Cher regularly wore the trend in suede.

Fringe got even more spotlight than ever in the 70s with the hippy movement, which had fringe in bright colours and with added decorations. Throughout the 80s and 90s, designers such as Ralph Lauren, Azzedine Alaia, Girgio Armani, Jean Paul Gaultier and Thierry Mugler created high fashion fringe looks, even dedicating entire collections to the trend. The year 2007 saw fringe with a cowgirl leaning as design houses Prada and Roberto Cavalli explored fabric stripping.

This year fringe is seeing yet another comeback: for Spring/Summer 2014, designers had a chic take on the trend, with iterations in metallics and monochromatic shades. Zadig & Voltaire sent luxurious fringed leather shawls and bags down the runway, while Azzaro made a nod to Tina Turner by adorning gowns and cocktail dresses with metallic fringe. Calvin Klein created a modernized flapper dress in black with sheer panels, and at Altuzzarra black and blue leather was leant visual intrigue through fringing. A. F. Vandervost took a pretty LBD up a level by adding a shimmering black and gold-fringed scarf to the mix, while the mood was classy and rebellious at Maxime Simoens, where silver fringe fully covered a strapless mini dress. The message was clear: fringe is back (again)! Did it ever really leave?

Will you rock the recently revived fringe trend? Let us know how in the comments!

Images courtesy of: Fashionologie.com, WWD.com, Vogue.com, OutdoorPhotoWorkshops.com, ElvisConcerts.com and VirginMedia.com

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