Homeless-chic?

We are all familiar with the terms shabby-chic, urban-chic, casual-chic and even business-chic to describe certain fashions, but the newest look in the “chic” family is much less, well, chic. This look is called “homeless-chic”. Sounds to me like an oxy-moron, but many people, including celebrities have taken a strong liking to the new-age bag lady look.

The phenomenon of the poor wanting to look rich and the rich wanting to look poor has been present in Western society for some time now, but it seems to be more prevalent today than ever before with designers’ collections and public figures in the media. Designers such as Vivienne Westwood  and John Galliano have featured collections emulating the styles of people living on the streets.

The poor wanting to look rich makes more sense because it is human nature to constantly try to improve or reach a certain status. The lower class strives to be in the middle class and the middle class strives to become upper class; so when you are already in the upper crust, where do you go? It appears that the Hollywood elite is going back to the bottom, or at least it appears this way in how they are dressing. There is almost a sick irony in seeing millionaires sporting expensive outfits that look like they were stolen off of a hobo. Is it because they are too busy to make themselves look presentable and groomed? Maybe it is a way for them to be incognito, hiding under layers and layers of clothes to the point where they are almost unrecognizable. Whatever the reason, this “homeless-chic” look is taking Hollywood by storm. The next time you see someone dressed in rags carrying at three-dollar Starbucks coffee, take a closer look and you may just have yourself a celebrity sighting.