It’s a harmless enough occupation being a fashion journalist, although personally I prefer to call myself a fashion writer because I take a longer more considered view of how the fashion industry impacts on our lives.

In fact if truth be told I’m a critic and I’m watching everyone from behind my designer spectacles. Make one false move in your strappy Manolos you fashion tottie types and I’ll blog about it.

Fashion nonsense word number two is…

Grown up

Now let me see. When I read clothes described as ‘grown up’ as in ‘this season designers have opted for a more grown up take on style,’ or ‘the new grown up styles are perfect for…’ I get red mists. I’m a grown up after all.

I’m not expecting my clothes to make me look like a school-girl at any point. Unfortunatley the copy unwittingly infers that last season I might have been. This is at odds with my shopping practice however since I’m buying from the adult market not the children’s wear section – the very first thing I expect is to look like a grown woman.

Moreover in an environment where women are actively encouraged by the beauty market to defy their age, I’m very happy in my skin and don’t care to pretend I’m any younger

So of course we return to the true meaning of commentary passed by the fashion pack (often a subtext of unconscious declaration). Ah yes now we’re getting to the bottom of it.

If they are ‘grown up’ clothes they must have matured since last season when they were behaving very childishly and running amok. Perhaps accessories have since pulled themselves together and stopped appearing so immature. It’s even possible to contemplate that ‘grown up’ clothes might sensibly fold themselves away and stop lying around on the floor like delinquents.

Either that or the writers of such copy are only little girls themselves.

Related posts:

1. Fashion babble. Nonsense fashion words and phrases. Another part one.
2. Hats off to Stephen Jones
3. This week I am mostly wearing…fake tan
4. All women deserve great fashion
5. One of fashion’s greats