Yves here. Richard Murphy posted that from the point of view of a small amount of money, a piece of women’s fashion for autumn/winter as an economic indicator. You start with the most visible, the length of the skirt. He finds that H&M, which makes the most defined “fast fashion” (low-priced, cheaply made items that equate to a hot look that the consumer, who usually earns a middle or high income, can throw away after the current season when it is no longer worn. the in crowd) shows short skirts, which he sees as the same and bullish. However, Murphy can’t help but notice that the colors are drawn to the point of depression. That looks a little sad. So is this a mixed bag?
Besides, yours truly is troubled by the proliferation of dull-colored cars. When I was a kid, most cars, not just the almost-always-on Volkswagen Beetles, were yellow: sunny yellow, purple red, bright green, and the whole range of blue, from sweet robin’s egg to cool navy. The reduction of the palette is almost certainly not driven by the manufacturer; you’d think they’d sell brightly colored cars if there was a market (and wouldn’t more contrasting colors be safer? The cars would stand out more when driving and might make identification easier at times). This looks like a deeply internalized compromise.
One of Murphy’s students argued that H&M’s customers skew younger, so H&M may include short skirts and frocks without fitting their desire to show some skin in order to attract male attention. He recommended psychological testing by looking at new offerings from top designer, Victoria Beckham. I picked out some things, which were impressive:
I love a turtleneck as much as the next person, and I can tolerate small runway designs. But I found these styles to be terrifying. The necklines are not so high that they cover the jaw in the way of a burqa. And if you look at the last picture, the short cut judge, you can see it is inserted so that no hand or arm skin is visible. A potential buyer can see both shear cuffs but no flesh.
These clothes seem monastic, as if the buyers were prepared for a settled life.
Admittedly, this is only one designer. Do students have affirming or conflicting opinions?
By Richard Murphy, interim Professor of Finance at Sheffield University Management School, director of the Corporate Accountability Network, member of Finance for the Future LLP, and director of Tax Research LLP. Originally published at Future Future
I think it’s fair to say that this blog presents a slightly male-biased worldview. That’s no surprise: I’m a man, and this blog is about how I see things.
Having said that, I am interested in fashion. I actually subscribe to the online version of Vogue (it’s £12 a year). I don’t do that because I buy such fashion. I suspect that is pretty obvious. However, for decades I have thought that fashion reflects the state of society. Looking at where you’re going is a very strong indicator of where the economy may be headed. Danny Blanchflower would call this part of the ‘economy of mobility’. For that reason, I see people on the street: their style of meeting says a lot about how we feel.
In this context, an email came to this family from H&M yesterday, promoting its latest, high-end collection. This is a screenshot from that email:
The message is surprising. Of the three skirts shown, two are short. That may suggest a level of optimism that has yet to be seen in the economy. I have long believed that there is a significant correlation between the distance between the edges of the skirts and the ground and the economic status of the people. They went upstairs together. And on the road, they’re too long right now.
On the other hand, look at the colors. They are dark, sombre, depressing and low. That’s the message I’m taking from this. There is really very little hope for the economy if color disappears from the palettes of fashion chains.
This proves nothing, of course, except one thing. These fashion houses spend a lot of time trying to figure out what colors to offer. H&M seems to be taking a broader view on this issue. Heart rate is reduced. I don’t know where Rachel Reeves thinks growth is going to come from that situation: the signs of it happening aren’t there.
Source link