The fashion frontline: Trend – Ruffles

By Shanel Williams-O’Reilly

As the spotlight on focal detail has much become the make or break of our fashion ensembles, this season’s front-runner and stand-out particular comes bearing the unwanted gifts of throwback scepticism and dress-up dalliance – but behold, as the ruffle is ceremoniously making major fashion waves.

Far from the cries of the frilly numbers you too may have been obliged to wear to church or any prestigious community occasion (where no doubt you could have easily been mistaken as a long lost daughter from the Little House on the Prairie), the recent ruffle revival has thankfully taken a much improved turn.

The designers have mostly been spot on – delivering very modern, much more appealing versions of your Lil Bo Peep self.

Widely presented in every fashion form, there is definitely a ruffle adaptation that can harness all of our personalities and an interpreted narrative for every outfit mood.  The contemporary angle does bring about clean, architectural forms that provide a minimalist look with maximum effect, but whether it’s a subtle nod or a flamboyant statement; fluid or structured, delicate or dramatic, donning the décolletage or hanging from the hem; ruffles can in equal measures translate a poetic graciousness and/or a vivacious enigma – very much demonstrated by David Bowie in the 1980s film Lambrinth.

However, a perfect modern day example is of Roberto Cavalli’s yellow dress, made famous by Beyonce and now tarnished with the words “jealous or Crazy”, confirming that ruffles no longer represent the shy and retiring but even managed to make an endearing case for a bat wielding, antagonistic heroine.

So whether you choose a dress, blouse, shirt, coat, skirt or trousers, this is a trend that can be explored in an endless wardrobe capacity.  The only question to ask yourself now is… do you want to channel your inner Carmen Miranda or simply pair back and let the Ruffles do all the talking. Whichever you decide, ‘Ruffle-up’, have some fun and embrace the ride!

As always, here are a few of my inspired season faves.