Looking for Something Real?
As we head towards the penultimate episode of The Handmaid’s Tale (2017-) I can’t but wonder where the protagonists caught in a dystopian nightmares get their outfits.
The main piece in Blade Runner 2049 (2017) to cause a stir is K’s jacket.
Officer K’s (Ryan Gosling) waxed cotton shearling coat perfects the protagonists look, indicative of his low-income and living on the fringes of the hellish world. However as Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner(1982) brought excitement regarding future fashion some of the pieces in Blade Runner 2049 (2017) seem to be in a retro realm of fashion.
An homage is paid to Blade Runner (1982) in imitating the plastic jacket worn by the character of Zhora (a replicant) as Joi in Blade Runner 2049 (2017) however the excitement of the item is quickly lost as although a watered down yellow hue as transparent coats and trousers are available on the high street. The fashions of Blade Runner (1982) were of items that were unattainable and regarded as futuristic, in contrast with the internet and disposable fashion these looks are attainable and seem less impressive to contemporary audiences.
Gareth Pugh’s 2017/2018 Fall collection seems to pick up the slack where Blade Runner 2049 (2017) fell short. Pugh incorporates military silhouettes and introduces a range of ostentatious furs whilst combining leather into the pieces. Pugh rejects the shiny metallic hues fed to the audiences of the 70’s sci-fi movies. Pugh created a piece distinctly evocative of the character of Rachel (Sean Young) in 1982.
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