Barneys Homeless Mannequins

This homeless-inspired fashion trend has been going on for a long time, not just as part of the recession. I remember the "boho" style a few years ago, which featured baggy, frumpy clothes that looked like they were fished out of a dumpster, but actually cost hundreds of dollars, sported, most notoriously by Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen.

It doesn't surprise me that Ralph Lauren and Barney's are also using the hobo chic aesthetic to market their clothes. I think the whole trend has something to do with making it seem like you spent little to no effort on your outfit, whereas in reality, you did. Not caring and appearing to throw something together is much cooler than showing off designer names. But I still find it bizarre, hilarious, and mildly offensive that companies are seriously using homeless people to market their clothing to the wealthy. We all know that if a wealthy person was actually mistaken for homeless, they would be incredibly offended. And I can't imagine the reaction of a real homeless person looking into a department store display and seeing a manequin sleeping on a pseudo park bench. Ironically, a real homeless person would probably be kicked out of that very department store. Only in America.

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