Say what you want about it, `Clashing' look knows no match
By Beth Teitell
Thursday, May 19, 2005

Yesterday I ran into one of my favorite fashionistas, and although usually I lust after whatever she's wearing - even, once, a pair of CVS flip-flops, that's how much style she's got - yesterday her look was kind of off.

Or so I thought, in my own, underconfident, unenlightened way.

But who could blame me? I mean, she had paired a casual purple sailor's shirt with a very delicate blue beaded choker.

``Do you like my new style?'' she asked, fingering her jewelry. ``It's `Clashing' - the new trend in fashion.''

Well, it's not quite the new trend. It's pre-new.

She's trying to get it started, and if she can just get some big-name Conde Nast editor to buy in, or perhaps convince Kate Winslet to appear in ``Clash'' couture in the pages of Us Weekly, the trend will be on its way.

Clashing. I took the idea into my mental fitting room - and I liked it. In fact, I've worn it (though not intentionally - which means it didn't count).

``Clashing is going to free up all my whole wardrobe,'' my friend said, giddy.

Bowled over by her genius, I inquired about her Eureka! moment.

It turns out she'd bought the necklace six months ago, but hadn't been able to wear it because she lacked the appropriate shirt. Or thought she did.

But yesterday morning, for some reason, she said enough is enough. So she didn't have the right white V-neck top. The necklace had been in exile long enough.

``I feel so liberated,'' she said. No longer will garments be held hostage until she finds the right shoes or hand bag, but rather, they'll head out with whatever else strikes her fancy that day.

Like so many people high on life after a breakthrough, she's thinking of starting a charity to help those without the moxy to attempt the ``my luggage got lost'' look.

Meanwhile, a little later in the day, she passed another friend of ours, who was unaware that she had just witnessed the start of something big.

``Is she nuts?'' she asked me later, ``or is she whimsical?''

Only her stylist knows for sure.