Do you remember those days when you would cut and twist your old tights to make cool new outfits? This DIY trend is making a big comeback!
Source: Pinterest
Many millennials started experimenting with it during their teen years, and now it’s a huge sensation on TikTok. The hashtag #subversivebasics has over 93.1 million views, and it’s all about taking something plain and simple and turning it into something unique and stylish. Let’s take a look!
Coined by Agus Panzoni
Meet Agus Panzoni, a fashion content creator known as @thealgorythm on TikTok. She’s the one who noticed a trend of people transforming simple, everyday clothes into unique fashion pieces, and called it “subversive basics.”
Source: thealgorythm/TikTok
It’s about taking basic items like shirts, dresses, and tights and adding cutouts, holes, and layers. This gives the clothes a fresh, rebellious twist and makes them stand out.
Redefining Basics
In one of her viral TikTok posts, Panzoni explained that subversive basics are “basics that rebel up to the point of losing their utility.” This means taking something simple, like a plain white t-shirt, and altering it with holes or asymmetrical cuts.
Source: thealgorythm/TikTok
The result is a piece of clothing that looks completely different and interesting. For example, you can turn a regular pair of tights into a stylish crop top. It’s all about reimagining the ordinary into something extraordinary!
Vanessa Seurat’s Creations
Vanessa Seurat is a DIY fashion guru. She’s known for turning tights into all sorts of trendy tops and has even made a stylish going-out top from a trash bag! Inspired by 90s fashion icon Adam Saaks and designer Rui Zhou, Vanessa loves to experiment with different materials.
Source: Jiggs/TikTok
TikTok has given her a platform to share her creative ideas and reach a wide audience. Her projects show that you don’t need expensive materials to create something fashionable.
Vanessa’s Tutorials and Tips
Vanessa Seurat doesn’t just make cool clothes; she also shares how she does it. Through her tutorials, she teaches her audience how to tie and style slashed tights in various creative ways.
Source: Jiggs/TikTok
Most of her DIY materials come from Target, which makes it easy and affordable for anyone to follow along and create their own unique fashion pieces. You can easily learn and experiment with your style from the comfort of your home!
Let’s Talk Loose Knitwear
Subversive basics aren’t just about tights. Many designers on TikTok are experimenting with loose knitwear and layering. For example, Paletta Matievna-Titarenko from Montreal creates handmade knitwear pieces inspired by the universe.
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She imagines what magical creatures, like witches or goblins, would wear if they got into knitwear. This adds a fun and imaginative twist to her designs, making her pieces truly unique and enchanting.
Xuly.Bet’s Second Skin
The Xuly.Bet Spring 2022 collection takes layering and texture to the next level. Designer Lamine Badian Kouyaté explains that the structure of the garment acts like a second skin. By layering different pieces and using various textures, the clothes create an expressive look.
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This fits perfectly with the subversive basics trend, which also focuses on the outer lining and contrasting colors. It involves making bold fashion statements and expressing your personality through your clothes.
Rick Owens’ Collection
Rick Owens’ Spring 2022 collection embraces subversive and even brutalist styles. The collection features loose and cut-out knitwear, using imbalanced layering to create optical illusions with symmetry and fabrics.
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This avant-garde approach to fashion fits perfectly within the subversive basics trend. Owens’ designs encourage self-expression and creativity, allowing people to make a bold fashion statement.
Sculptural Styling
Agus Panzoni also introduced the term “sculptural styling,” closely related to subversive basics. Sculptural styling is like the next level of DIY fashion. It responds to the dominance of fast fashion by offering unique, exclusive alternatives.
Source: Ness/TikTok
In sculptural styling, the focus is on transforming fabrics into artful, sculptural pieces that allow for personal expression and creativity. This makes each piece a work of art!
DIY Fashion Revolution
Subversive basics and sculptural styling let you take the same fabrics and completely reimagine their form. By transforming simple items like nylon tights into sleeves or creating sculptural looks, you become the designer of your own fashion!
Source: Jiggs/Pinterest
This DIY revolution empowers you to express your individuality and creativity, making each piece uniquely yours. It lets you break free from conventional styles and create something that truly reflects your personality.
Redefine Fashion Rules
The traditional rules of fashion are being rewritten. With subversive basics, you have the power to decide how you wear your clothes.
Source: Jiggs/Pinterest
This trend is all about personal expression and creativity, giving you control of your style. By becoming the sculptor of your own fashion, you can redefine what it means to be stylish.
Become a Creator
It’s time to embrace subversive basics and sculptural styling to transform your wardrobe. Experiment with DIY fashion to create unique, eye-catching pieces that show off your personal style!
Source: Jiggs/TikTok
By controlling your fashion choices and getting creative with simple materials, you can become the master of your own style. Make every outfit a statement of your individuality and transform basic pieces into something extraordinary!
