What exactly is fashion?

Is fashion about feeling good? Is it about looking good? Is it perhaps both? Many people, myself included, would probably say so. High fashion, though, is slightly different. While the vast majority of us are happy to find a nice piece that's also a bargain, high fashion is about spending so much money on an item of clothing that it actually doesn't matter whether you look like an arsehole in it or not. It's about buying something so ludicrous, so against the very nature of aesthetic attractiveness, that the idea of whether it looks good goes out the window. This renders high fashion more a statement than anything else. We've seen it before with Gucci's poverty chic trainers that came equipped with scuffs, because nothing looks or feels cooler than pretending that you grew up on a council estate without actually having to step foot in one. Urgh. And now, Gucci are back at it again with their new line of "stained-like" jeans, which come with built-in grass stains on the knees, for that 'lunchtime kick about in the park' look. Here there are, in all of their glory. They are quite something, aren't they? And all for the low, low price of just £600 (€650). Now, we could say (a lot) more on these, but better to hear it from the horse's jewel-encrusted mouth instead: "Channelling the Fall Winter 2020 collection’s grunge vibe, this wide-leg denim pant is crafted from organic cotton specifically treated for a stained-like, distressed effect," they said. "Gucci explores new takes on the cult fabric, reinterpreting it with different designs and washing techniques that blur the line between vintage and contemporary." And if you are in the market for these, may I be able to interest you in a white t-shirt I own? It is several years old, has some holes in it, and a number of coffee stains. Actually, let me rephrase that: "Channelling cold Winter mornings, this vintage crew neck is crafted from cotton and polyester specifically treated with disdain over a number of years for a coffee-stained effect." They really do blur the line between disgusting and chic.