Argentina A-Z: F for fashion

Initially as a sales assistant in some boutique, later as a PR assistant for a few important firms, then as a reporter: with its ups and downs, fashion has been “my thing” during my stay in London. Definitely I look at clothes, magazines, advertisements, wherever I am the world. I instinctively size-up the situation fashion-wise, even without making it a loud observation, I will just look at what people wear and how. In Buenos Aires this was easy but it was far from the trend report that in London you can easily link to the cover of the latest magazine. Buenos Aires seemed more like a place where people –but mainly ladies- have style and dare to go for quirkiness and colours, but more in a comfortable, practical, and inexpensive way. 

Especially in San Telmo, fashion is about the local boutiques, the vintage and the gipsy pieces sold at the weekend markets along Calle Defensa. Style adapts to the quirkiness of the barrio, making it independent from trends, ever-green, alive and real like the local people. Generally high-spirited, trends find influence in the international street markets, or often are based on the Argentinian nostalgia of good old Europe. In other neighbourhoods, like the gorgeous Palermo, I was able to find a series of shops and higher end boutiques - even the French Loft Design By, for which I worked in London as a sales assistant a long time ago. However, the practical side of fashion and the choice for staple pieces was evident: the window displays ranging from the classic styles to high-end sportswear with the clear influence of US fashion to brands that cater for a gipsy-like taste.

Very few of the brands that were trying to keep up with the runways attracted my attention, they are mostly cheap looking, unlike their price: highly unfeasible for anyone working a job with an average salary in Buenos Aires. Higher factors like the terrible inflation influence also what people wear. Websites like Asos, home of the latest trend at cheap prices, are not available everywhere in the world, leaving it up to the consumer to create a DIY collage of creativity and pieces to collect here and there.

Although it finds its inspiration in the past, fashion is definitely always looking at what’s next. And that’s probably why it cannot sit comfortably with this city’s nostalgia. In fact, the queen of subtrends in Buenos Aires is definitely connected to the best-known and most practiced passion porteña: tango. I haven’t practiced tango because I had a weak ankle during the whole stay in Buenos Aires. However, I have been to a Milonga, which I think is the best way to understand the participation of the people of all ages, all nationalities and, in this case all trends, at this beautiful dance. 

Flimsy skirts, revealing dresses, classic trousers, but even jeans and flirty tops all dance along to keep in step with the real protagonists: the tango shoes. They are of every colour, with or without details applied, patent, matt leather or suede, sequins or prints, dots or stripes, an endless variety of tango shoes is on display in a Milonga. And yes, especially being the voyeuristic guest of the evening, my eye repeatedly fell to those beauties, showing me the sweet, slow steps of those tango dancers, revealing to me their flair and personalities, while calmly dancing to celebrate the past.