As someone who sits squarely in the millennial category (1990 was a good year), I find it inspiring to see more and more of my peers taking the helm of fashion’s most important labels. Think Grace Wales Bonner (also 1990) at Hermès, Matthieu Blazy (1984) at Chanel, and Maximilian Davis (1995) at Ferragamo. Add to that the culturally important work of indie darlings like Christopher John Rogers and Sandy Liang, and I feel like fashion is speaking my language, or at least sharing my references.
But these compatriots of mine (victims of millennial cringe, purpose-driven overworkers) are also the perfect people to connect with Gen Z. They understand online culture and trends in a way that those before them never could, while still having the analog knowledge to bring fresh ideas to the table. Yes, millennials as a whole may never shake the “blanding” allegations that came from the rise of quiet luxury and minimalist basics, but the generation’s most prolific designers are more interested in having fun with the clothes they’re creating.
They can withstand (or even encourage) controversy (hello, Chanel’s soleless sandals) while still offering pieces we actually want to wear. And for Gen Z, a generation defined by the pursuit of personal style, that sense of play is the key to unlocking how they want to dress. The rise of The RealReal has become a signifier of the shifting attitudes around personal style.
What began as a platform focused on access to pre-loved luxury items for lower prices has become a destination for one-of-a-kind finds that make a wardrobe feel personal. Gen Z’s obsession with self-expression is well-suited to one-of-a-kind vintage and modern designers who have carved out a more playful, personal point of view. Beyond secondhand, here are some of the millennial designers I respect who are also naturally tuned in to younger generations and who I think will define fashion for years to come.
Liang’s girlishly whimsical designs feel like they’ve been plucked from my childhood bedroom, while also leaning into the aesthetics of creatives like Sofia Coppola and Petra Collins. Hillary Taymour (1987) has zeroed in on sustainable, upcycled clothes, often modeled by her diverse, wildly creative group of industry friends. They’re clothes that straddle the line between Nirvana-tinged grunge and fairycore.
Crew collaboration, Eckhaus Latta is a New York brand bringing a sense of cool to everyday staples, from tie-dye jeans to quirky knits. Consider it the place to build an everyday wardrobe that feels different. Now overseeing menswear at Hermès, Grace Wales Bonner also has her own label and a widely beloved Adidas collaboration under her belt.
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