Mohair Undies Anyone?

Hold onto your seat: I am going to coin a new fashion term! At least I think it’s new; I’ve never heard anyone espouse this concept before. Here it is: monomaterial.

What the? Well, you’ve heard of monochrome, right? The theory of dressing all in one colour that fashion editors and stylists everywhere tout in order to flatter and elongate your figure? I am merely going one step further. Monomaterialism is dressing head-to-toe all in one fabric.

Think of the possibilities. Silk stockings: what luxury! Cashmere catsuits (for lounging at home): what decadence! Paisley pedalpushers; boucle blouses; taffeta turtlenecks; and of course the ubiquitous mohair underwear. It’s a whole new world. Which is not to say that in the picture above I am wearing white leather undies.

And when you combine the two: monochrome and monomaterial, why, the mind boggles!

…Which is not to say that in the picture above I am wearing white leather undies.

Alright, alright, so all that is a little tongue-in-cheek. On a sensible note, I do advocate monochrome dressing, although there are only two non-colours I personally would wear all over (unless we are speaking of a dress): white, and grey. You could include neutrals such as beige, and black in that list of course, but I try to avoid like the plague the stereotype of Melburnians wearing all black.

I read in Glamour’s Big Book of Do’s and Don’ts (2006) under The Rules for Flattery: “Know the power of being monochromatic. Wearing the same colour or shades of it, from top to bottom elongates your shape, thinning you out.” It was a pity I could find very few examples of this principle in the book, excepting dresses and suits. I’d like to know how many women actually do this, as I would feel a little silly clothed in say, varying shades of pink from top to bottom.

However, here I am all in white … and all in leather! I have managed over the years – unintentionally – to amass a collection of white leather garments, mostly vintage. My most fabulous find was a 1970s calf-length trench, pristine white in the most supple leather, for only US$45 on eBay. The obi belt I am wearing here is the only item I’ve bought new from Witchery, when obis were all the rage a few years ago. The panelled vest is Bebe, the shoes Scanlan & Theodore, and the skirt is in storage so I can’t check the label.

A Lara Croft type in black leather is as likely to ravish you as kill you, but who could be sure of one in white?

The connotations of wearing black leather from head to foot are patent. White, however, manages to retain that tough-girl image, but in a far more subtle way. It’s the contrast of angelic white crossed with animal hide: danger is implicit rather than overt. A Lara Croft type in black leather is as likely to ravish you as kill you, but who could be sure of one in white? There lies the advantage.

Of course, it would be a trifle difficult to execute any head-height kicks in that pencil skirt (the waistband is so tight I can hardly breathe). I’d better keep my eye out for some white leather pants. Evildoers everywhere, watch out!

Thanks to Rolve from stock.xchng for the background images.