The Radicalization of the Model Off Duty

Waking up to warmth and seeing the sun in the sky until seven pm will change the way you look at the city, look at yourself, and definitely how you look at your wardrobe. For me, the change in sun exposure has made me go from wearing an uninspiring layered black look to wearing sheer, spring colors. This change in weather could not have come at a better time in fashion; fashion month.

The weather is perhaps the catalyst for a good outfit. Not only because clothing is weather allowing, but because the sun will make you a completely new person. This is a wonderful time to look at inspiration and the curators of the upcoming trends: the off-duty model.

The effort of the effortless look is the name of the game for these models. How mysterious, really, is the model off-duty?

These photo shoots must be staged; how could they not be? It's all planned. What they’ll wear and where they will get their picture taken. It is literally their job. However, the people behind these styled looks are the greatest fashion trend forecasters of our time, because it seems that whatever these models are wearing is booming just a few months later.

This decade has been that of becoming a distinguished woman. The trends of twenty, ten, even five years ago were bright and flashy, maximalist looks that were extremely opinionated. Some neon, some made of meat.

We’re now seeing an upward trend in minimalist, distinguished style. This Vogue article touches on the most recent model off-duty looks at Paris Fashion Week. This year, a French style is trending, as Alex Consani was seen in an oversized button-up and long skirt with an open-toe kitten heel. Layering with a statement jacket or poncho, with a minimalist take, along with the ballet flat, is also seen trending at the moment.

This upward trend in minimalist, distinguished looks is completely political. As was the clean girl aesthetic. The clean girl aesthetic was shredding self-expression, as we were in a political climate that did not promote speaking out or going against the political grain, as people were being arrested and even killed for protesting the state of our government.

Our fashion is becoming not only more uniform but more distinguished, and perhaps that has to do with the idea of how we identify and how we want to be perceived as a nation. In times of threat and war, we need to come off as distinguished and prepared. Perhaps that's why Parisian fashion started during the French Revolution. It's a societal effort for preparedness.

Alas, we find our favorite supermodels out on the streets not as just a face, but the face. The models strut the fashion capitals like distinguished women, sporting button-ups, ballet flats, and Bella Hadid in a Mugler suit.

The off-duty model has a whole new role. She’s not just there for our Pinterest boards, but there for inspiration in strength, power, and womanhood.