Dazed Digital's 'The Outsider' is a short film directed by Sharif Hamza and styled by Robbie Spencer.
Citing films like Over the Edge, Rumble Fish and The Outsiders as his inspiration, Hamza wanted to depict the harrowing experience of teen angst within the film. He explains, "We wanted to do a group story, but one that actually focused on interaction between young people and not just models posing, it's a house party that gets out of control going from social to violent." Indeed, the film opens with a group of sullen, blank-faced teenagers smoking and drinking in a seedy basement. This scene is interspersed with shots of the teens violently destroying their surroundings.
Though the objective of the film was to showcase the complex emotional ups and downs of adolescence, the fashion is pretty on-point, featuring collections by McQ, Benetton, Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci, Roberto Cavalli and Dolce & Gabbana, among others.
Angsty Adolescent Fashion Films
Dazed Digital's 'The Outsider' Depicts the Teenage Condition
Trend Themes
1. Youth Rebellion Fashion - Opportunities for fashion companies to experiment with edgy and rebellious styles that appeal to disaffected youth.
2. Authentic Teenage Stories in Media - Room for directors and producers to explore genuine depictions of adolescent struggles grounded in real experiences.
3. Dual Narrative Storytelling - Increasing use of duelling storylines intended to create a more visceral and emotionally engaging experience.
Industry Implications
1. Fashion - Fashion companies, especially high street brands, that strive to offer styles that resonate with confused, rebellious, and disaffected youth.
2. Film - Directors, producers, and writers who seek to craft realistic, emotionally powerful, and impactful stories about teenage angst and the struggles of adolescence.
3. Advertising - Brands who deploy edgy and rebellious visual techniques that create a genuine impact with a targeted teenage audience.