Bucket hats are old but that doesn’t mean edgy is dead

Everyone does seem to be wearing tie-dye, bucket hats, and Air Max Ones. And yes, 99 per cent of people who do will deny that they’re edgy – they’re “just being myself.”

But last week Charlie Bayliss claimed the internet has killed edginess, that you can start a national fashion craze purely by sending a few Snapchats. But by highlighting the speed at which people adopt new fashion trends nowadays, Charlie is missing the very point of edginess.

Look at the definition: being at the forefront of a trend, experimental or avant-garde. Tie-dye, bucket hats, and Air Max Ones didn’t stop being edgy recently – they’ve lacked edge ever since they started to become widespread fashion trends. As soon as you can high-five someone in a club for having the same outfit as you, you’ve lost it.

Topknots haven’t been cool for aaages

The nature of fashion is that it constantly shifts, going from trend to trend – while you’re trying to stay ahead of the curve.

You’ll see another previously unfashionable item being sported by the throngs outside Cellar this October. It isn’t about a particular item. It’s about adopting the trend before it even is a trend.

Mr. Wavey-Shirt-&-Roll-Ups is not happy

Yes, the speed at which new trends take hold has increased because of the internet’s ability to instantly spread information. But this doesn’t mean edginess is dead, or that it will die soon.

Sure, the days of edginess being associated with beards and bucket hats, or rolled up trousers and cigarettes are over. Hipsters have become mainstream. Even the sweaty labyrinth of Cellar might have had its day – maybe all the cool kids will start to go to Warehouse, who knows.

The concept of edgy has always depended on its ability to regenerate – rising from the ashes of one trend in order to predict the next. So it will live on. (But I admit, probably not in Warehouse.)