Toon Chic: The kids are always right

21 August 2014 - 02:00 By Penelope Mashego
subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now
PLAYING CUTE: Moschino gives a nod to SpongeBob SquarePants during Milan Fashion Week, above
PLAYING CUTE: Moschino gives a nod to SpongeBob SquarePants during Milan Fashion Week, above

If you haven't been wearing cartoons, you're obsolete in the world of fashion.

Bart Simpson or SpongeBob SquarePants have never been more chic, and are no longer reserved for comic book fans.

Marvel Comics has jumped on to the cartoon-inspired trend, making geek the new hip.

Last month, the company created Styled by Marvel, an Instagram account where fashionistas show off their superhero-inspired outfits. The account's slogan is "Because you don't need to *be* a Super Hero to look like one!"

Though Superhero fashion is currently trending, Disney fashion keeps popping up on the runway.

The stylish Minnie Mouse featured in the Marc Jacobs runway last year and has since become a cartoon fashion staple.

Singer Katy Perry told Elle UK that Minnie Mouse is her style icon and Miley Cyrus attended a Marc Jacobs fashion show last year in a Mickey Mouse sweater.

The trend prompted top fashion labels such as Topshop and Forever 21, to debut their own Minnie and Mickey Mouse collections.

This year, Italian fashion label Moschino unveiled collections encompassing some of the cartoon trends. SpongeBob SquarePants featured in the label's colourfully bold 2014 autumn collection which included shoes, bags, bikinis, coats and sweaters.

Roy Fox Lichtenstein's iconic pop art was the inspiration for the Moschino's 2014 spring/summer collections, which featured familiar explosive prints and exclamations.

The colourful comic book lexicon of "Zap!", "Boom!" and "Pow!" has never looked more chic and is now on many items of clothing such as pencil skirts and accessories like earrings, clutches and sunglasses.

Locally, Mr Price in keeping with the trends has featured Mickey Mouse in clothing and has added Betty Boop, Daisy Duck and more to its collections.

The men's collection also features Popeye the sailorman, and Superman.

See www.mrp.com

subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now