From hoodrats to beach Lotharios to rednecks and suburban dads, it's a whole counter-culture that's now giving lessons in style to the elites
Everything that has long been considered kitsch, tacky, vulgar or old-fashioned has seemingly been transformed into beautiful and desirable by the magic wand of the so-called ruling classes. (Image: Photography eversummerphoto / Shutterstock)
In what seems like a click of the fingers—or, at least, a year of the pandemic—all things ugly have suddenly become even more desirable than the truly beautiful. To put it another way: the clothes, accessories and shoes once popular among those who spurned the world of fashion have now become chic when worn by the great and good of this world, in turn bringing these pieces to new heights of fashion. Anna Wintour, for example, made a major impact when she was photographed wearing jogging pants in her plush library, elevating a piece popularized by athletes and then appropriated by the street, to star fashion status. Sweatpants became 'THE' must-have piece of 2021. Previously associated with a more street thug, lowlife style, sweatpants were now suddenly sporting the logos of the world's biggest luxury fashion houses.