Barneys' Simon Doonan Hates Normcore: It's Deadly, Venomous

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In an article for Slate, Barneys creative ambassador-at-large Simon Doonan discusses his opinion on, nay, his disgust for, normcore.

The ultimate anti-trend was a long time coming, he opines. "The idea, more or less, is that in an era that embraces the distinct, bespoke, and quirky, the final fashion frontier is dressing like a big fat anonymous nobody," said Doonan, tracing the rise of normcore back to the preppie revival of the '00s.

The "the terrifying paradox of normcore," he continues, is that "it appears good-natured, but, as I will illustrate to you, it can be deadly and venomous." That's because it can be hard to tell who is a normcore enthusiast, and who is just a Teva-and-pleated-khaki-wearing type with no interest in fashion. And, he stresses, even if said person is dressed in normcore, they are loathe to admit it. Also: "When dealing with a suspected normcorer, it is important to realize that many of these men often resemble depressed '80s perverts. We are talking socks with sandals. This does not mean that they are, in fact, depressed '80s perverts."

If you find yourself suddenly on-trend after years of blissful disregard for fashion's whims, enjoy your moment in the spotlight, says Doonan. "They are just faking it. You are the real deal."
· Beware of Normcore [Slate]
· President Obama: 'My Jeans Fit Very Well' [Racked]
· Vogue Discovers Normcore, Isn't Impressed [Racked]