If you’ve been noticing an influx of skinny jean, Hedi warriors wearing teeny tiny leather jackets and smoking an angsty cig looking into the distance, you’re not the only one. In case you haven’t seen one out in the wild (for some weird reason), @emmaxwinder’s got you covered, talking to some real-life Hedi boys everywhere she goes but, where did they all come from?
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The short answer is the indie sleaze revival that’s come into fashion over the past two years. Slimane’s Dior (2000-2007) became the uniform for the OG movement because he gifted Dior wardrobes to underground artists like The Libertines, The Strokes and Daft Punk. It created associations between his work and indie or electronic music that became the soundtrack of that time.
With artists like The Hellp, Snow Strippers and 2Hollis popping off recently because they’ve resurrected 2000s electroclash music, this means that the drug-abusing, hedonistic 2000s style didn’t just come back out of nowhere. These new-age artists not only took musical inspiration from the indie sleaze OGs but also took from their style too - the look that Hedi pioneered at Dior.
The only difference between a modern Hedi boy and one from before is that it’s not about wearing Slimane’s designs head-to-toe anymore. This time around, it’s about capturing the essence of his Dior days, taking inspo from his styling and the zeitgeist from back then. People are even looking at other brands that share similarities with the look like Rick Owens, Diesel and Ann Demuelemeester.
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Even though we give an easily dislikeable designer like Hedi a lot of attention, it’s for good reason - after all, he revolutionised a whole look and lifestyle in fashion that still lives on even after two decades. Love it or hate it, you can’t escape the Hedi boys. They’re not just at raves anymore, they’re everywhere - wearing their favourite skinny jeans from Bosnia (IFYKYK).
Featured image via Cobrasnake©
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