Too Old for Nu Rave?
By Georgina Roberts
So you like to add a splash of neon to your wardrobe, listen to the Klaxons and even know who Cassette Playa is, but if you were there the first time round are you too old for Nu Rave?
As a rule, I don’t believe that you are ever too old for anything, but I am becoming increasingly conscious of when an ‘edgy’ look starts to be described kindly as ‘eccentric’ and when ‘with it’ suddenly looks more like ‘lost it’.
Nu Rave is an outspoken look that is not easy to carry off. The culture, inspired by the crossover of indie and electronic music, is visualised by the clash of neon and RGB colours, early nineties soft tailoring with indie kid silhouettes and finished with a genuine affection for rave culture. Regardless of whether it is a valid music genre or not, it is most certainly a trend – one that has been illuminating art schools, gigs and alternative club nights across London since 2006.
The key drivers in Nu Rave fashion, arguably designer Christopher Kane and Carrie Mundane’s Cassette Playa label, have sent vibrations through the fashion industry. With Nu Rave already filtering down to the high street, colours for the Spring/Summer season are brighter than Zandra Rhodes’ hair.
So why is it that the electric blue jumpsuit that made you feel so cool in that Shoreditch bar can suddenly make you feel like a prize tw*t when the gang of teenage boys start cracking up with laughter as your blue arse descends the night bus stairs?
Whatever happened to the unspoken fashion rule that you don’t repeat trends if you were there the first time round? People used to be satisfied with that – they had no desire to revive flares, crush velvet or leggings. But today our extended youth dilemma leaves us in something of a style identity crisis. No one wants to look like they are trying too hard to look young, but if the alternative is to resign ourselves to the style alternative of easy listening, then we’ll reach for lasers thank you very much!
So bonkers is to be embraced, well-rehearsed colour co-ordination forgotten and nineties clothes, barely cold from the charity shop lady’s iron, are back. But before you steal the kids’ face paints and embrace the outrageous style of Nu Rave, consider these three simple rules.
In nature, bright colours are a warning: learn from this and approach neon with caution. The clashy mash-up styles of Nu Rave are best executed with conviction, but you don’t want to be mistaken for the lollipop lady when taking the kids to school. Avoid the combination of eighties hair with Nu Rave fashion if there is any danger that you will look like you’ve been wearing it since 1989. Irony is the key to retro. And finally, remember that rave paraphernalia is strictly for nights out. The smiley face jewellery, giant sunglasses or (heaven forbid) white gloves that seemed to give your outfit that bit of extra fun and authenticity on Saturday night will simply make you look like a w*nker in Sainsbury’s on Sunday afternoon.
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