Reviving a Retro Vibe: JW Anderson’s Contemporary Take on Vintage Charm

According to designer Jonathan Anderson, the fashion directive for the upcoming season is to embrace the essence of your gray-haired, inquisitive neighbor.

Moments after revealing his latest collection for JW Anderson during London Fashion Week on Sunday, Anderson shared with a group of journalists his fascination with the resurgence of nostalgia, envisioning women “doing laundry in their neighbor’s yard.”

However, the Northern Irish designer’s rendition of this classic British scene was anything but ordinary. Salt and pepper permed wigs were coupled with striking red lips.

Concluding a predominantly black and white showcase, Thom Browne’s final ensemble shimmered in gold from head to toe. New York Fashion Week: Highlights from the Fall-Winter 2024 runways

“This time, we aimed for something slightly psychological,” Anderson explained. “An exploration of the grotesque and the practical.”

Oversized coats, layered knitted undergarments, and unattractive boots evoked images of a woman diligently hanging laundry, baby in one arm, cigarette in the other.

Hair stylist Anthony Turner collaborated with the brand on the wigs featured in the show. Hair stylist Anthony Turner collaborated with the brand on the wigs featured in the show. Victor Virgile/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images

“Young individuals are embracing nostalgia,” Turner remarked. “Suddenly, a song from half a century ago can top the charts.”

While it may be difficult to envision 90s-obsessed Gen Z-ers recreating the mundane aspects of pre-internet life in Britain on TikTok, it’s evident that we’re currently in an era where the past is being reimagined and revitalized.