In fashion, is perfection boring?

One of my favorite fashion bloggers, Jessica Quirk over at What I Wore, posted a quote recently about fashion by Bill Blass; “In fashion, perfection is boring. To be well dressed there must be something not quite right, something casual like a scarf askew or a not perfectly tied knot.”

I think some of what this quote represents is the appreciation that many lovers of fashion, from bloggers to designers to directors, have for that coveted look of effortlessness. It’s often those slightly askew elements, like the scarf or the bow tie that Blass references, that give us the impression of effortlessness, that one “threw on a outfit and walked out the door” looking just fabulous.

But to be honest, I have a hard time embracing any other perspective captured in this quote. Maybe it’s because I personally find it difficult to give an outfit that air of effortlessness, or maybe it’s because I genuinely like ultra-polished looks and find it interesting and appealing to look incredibly put together. Making the rule that something has to be slightly off for it to be truly interesting fashion, removes creativity and makes it uninteresting. When you purposefully put forth the effort to be authentic by partially un-tucking a shirt or making one sock slouched, it becomes inauthentic.

So, I’m sorry Bill, but here’s another boring outfit for you… ;)