The Cannes Film Festival red carpet is synonymous with flawless glamour, so when jury president Greta Gerwig appeared in a hot-pink Balenciaga couture gown covered in deliberate creases, it signaled a shift in fashion. The dress, corrugated from shoulder to hem, is part of a wider trend embracing crinkled and wrinkled clothing, from high-end runways to the high street.
Younger generations are driving this anti-ironing movement. A recent study found that one in three people under 35 do not own an iron, compared to 90% of those over 45. Many cite a lack of need or simply not liking the chore. On TikTok, viral hacks show how to achieve an ironed effect using hair straighteners or crease-release sprays, while brands like Steamery market handheld steamers as a chic alternative.
High fashion has long flirted with creases. Prada's co-creative director Raf Simons described deliberately wrinkled skirts and shirts as 'gestures of error' that replicate pieces that have 'had a life'. Balenciaga's crinkled designs debuted in 2022, and now labels like Maticevski and Tibi sell clothes with intentional folds, with Tibi using a 'crinkling machine' to ensure creases hold. Zara also offers wrinkly jeans and suiting designed to maintain a rough appearance.
The trend has extended to interiors, with crinkled linen tablecloths replacing ironed ones. Event designer David Stark described his unironed Belgian linen cloth as 'an experiment in wabi sabi', though he admitted it secretly made him uncomfortable. M&S introduced non-iron shirts in 1996, and Miuccia Prada has championed the just-picked-up-off-the-floor look since 1998.
For those wanting to try the trend, stylists recommend pairing a neatly pressed shirt with a crinkled silk skirt to make the look intentional rather than slapdash. As the fashion world embraces imperfection, it seems creases are here to stay.
