Written by The Strategy

Fringe can be a tricky trend. Too little and you look scraggly. Too much and you look like an extra from a period drama. Technically classified as a “trim”, fringe was traditionally meant to be an accent rather than the focal point that it can be made into these days. Some might disagree, but we think it was deserving of the upgrade. Casual or dressed up, fringe adds texture and dimension to an otherwise plain (read: borderline boring) look.

It’s one of those eternal elements that consistently pops up at least once every year, especially Spring and Summer. In some form another, fringe finds it’s way back. Whether it’s on summer’s kimonos and tanks, or winter’s party frocks and jackets. Even the little tassels that are on the tops of some loafers are considered fringe.

Fringe is everywhere and no where, tending to sneak up on you when you least expect it. Contemplating it mentally, the case of “To Fringe or Not to Fringe’ would generally end up on the ‘Not to Fringe’ side. But then you see it on, say, a gorgeous dress or magnificent skirt, and suddenly you’ve changed your mind. There’s a bad reputation that occasionally follows fringe. It tells people that fringe is tacky, cheap, and overdone, when in reality fringe is quite lovely when it is done correctly.

Chanel’s pre-fall 2014, for example, did fringe correctly. Used on almost the whole collection, fringe got quite the showcase. Both as the focal point and the finishing touch, each piece donning fringe didn’t lose any fashion credibility because of it. The tweed blazers on the classic Chanel suits were perfectly accented by the slightly larger than normal fringed edges. The dresses and coats that were covered in fringe could not have looked more chic. Though it was a collection inspired by the wild west, the accent of fringe was tasteful and didn’t appear costume-like, both the oversize to the demure.

Sure, fringe has had a few missteps here and there over the years. That’s no reason to swear off all fringe for the rest of time. We need to understand that fringe has duality, like everything else in nature. The classic elegance that delicate fringe can achieve shouldn’t out weigh the equally gorgeous effect that heavier, chunkier fringe can pull off.

Since it was a pre-fall collection that Chanel gave us covered in fringe, it’s a good guess to say that we have a lot more fringe to look forward to in the somewhat near fashion future. We see fringy knitted ponchos and the like on the horizon. And we can’t wait.