Jenifer Chan
Fashion Columnist
A new year means fresh starts and fantastic style. Stuck in a rut from last year’s fizzled out fads? Worry not — this year is bound to offer plenty of appealing new options, and I will happily navigate the trends with my loyal readers!
As an advocate for personal style and expression, I have been trying to passively suppress the subjective hits and misses of last season in hopes that they would assert their value for themselves. However, in this one particular instance, I must formally declare that the poncho, my friends, is over and out.
Before I continue, I must begin by saying that I sincerely hope to not offend anyone in the following column — it is all light-hearted fun and it was through the urging of acquaintances that initially inspired this topic. With that said, allow me to continue and use my advice however you see fit.
Introducing the poncho, an obscure garment from the 1970s that resembles an amorphous blanket with a hole in the center for your head — it sprung onto runways in the spring and baffled me from the start. Not only did it seem excessive and impractical, but also appeared to offer little style value with its billowing folds of fabric aimlessly draped over the body.
Nonetheless, I sat back and observed its existence on television, in magazines, on the streets and in the shopping malls. Notable celebrities sashayed around town in this fad for a short moment in time and pretty soon they were mass-produced in a dizzying variety of patterns, fabrics and colors for the world to seize from high-end designers to mall boutiques to department stores
Crochet knits, synthetic fabrics, rugged fringe — even the indulgent rabbit fur and cashmere options seemed somewhat trite as they invaded store racks last fall and continued to make a moderate presence during the holiday season. Glance around now and you’ll find these cloaks discarded on the clearance racks.
Fashion gurus explain the poncho was initially appealing because of the ‘newness’ factor in the outerwear department and its seemingly easy blend of bohemian and luxurious lifestyles into one single garment. Poncho wearers claim they are comfortable and conceal problem areas like the midsection or arms. Others defend the poncho in its ability to offer warmth without the bulkiness of a winter coat and the one-size-fits-all charm of the piece.
Although I have never tried on a poncho myself, I will not argue that ponchos are probably very comfortable — after all they have no true construction to them. But I should point out that plenty of other items possess the same attributes: snuggly down comforters, plush terry cloth towels, fleece throws — none of which were meant to be worn as a fierce fashion statement.
As far as the body-concealment myth goes, I attest that ponchosmerely swallow women up, creating a misshapen unflattering silhouette. As a rule of thumb, few pieces of clothing touting a one-size-fits-all tag are usually ideal additions to your closet, so opt for more streamlined clothing tailored for your body type if you are seeking figure-flattering options.
Concerned about locating an alternative form of coverage from the wind chill outside during the remaining winter months?
Beyond classic pea coats or trimmed jackets, elegant capelets, pashminas, shrugs, shawls and scarves are always advisable alternatives, which provide warmth to the wearer in a chic, non-bulky way that won’t detract from a stylish outfit. Unlike the pashmina or shawl, the poncho cannot be re-worked in numerous ways in different seasons — an indication that this fad is not here to stay and is on its way out.
While the poncho momentarily lavished in its time in the spotlight, it is now time to look ahead in the new year for exciting new looks to test-drive. I’ll keep you posted.
01-13-2005
