Squads are for losers, but #twinning is winning

GUARDIANUK

The Carters working power suits, and Usher. Photograph: Dave Allocca/AP

Now that we have had time to fully absorb and analyse the repercussions, it is clear that the most culturally significant reverb of Kim’s takedown of Taylor in July was the death of Swift’s squad, and the resulting devaluation of the very concept of the squad. For all their photogenic solidarity, Taylor Swift’s girl gang turned out to be wholly incompetent in defence of their queen when the going got tough. There was total radio silence from Gigi Hadid, Cara Delevingne, Karlie Kloss and the one from Victoria’s Secret, while a supportive tweet by Selena Gomez backfired spectacularly, when she appeared to belittle the Black Lives Matter movement #nothelpful

  

 Cara Delevingne and Margot Robbie in matching personalised silk tracksuits. Photograph: Beretta/Sims/Rex/Shutterstock

Taylor’s squad having been thus exposed as a vacuous, fame-baiting charade – by the Kardashian family, you couldn’t make this stuff up – the premier hashtag of 2015 is dead in the water. Adding #squadgoals to your social media post these days is a faux pas of such proportions that you would probably want to enrol in some kind of witness protection programme.

However, pictures speak louder than words, and this summer’s alpha duos have discovered the power of twinning, ie wearing matching clothes. When Beyoncé and Jay Z and Theresa and Philip May (in polo shirts and hiking trousers) are both working a trend, something is definitely afoot.

Mulberry campaign featuring Lia and Odette Pavlova.

 Platonic twinning is even sexier. Real-life twins Lia and Odette Pavlova star in the new Mulberry ads, mirroring Cara Delevingne and Margot Robbie’s tracksuit-twinning at the Suicide Squad premiere after-party. Bey twinned with her mini-me, Blue, in matching bespoke Gucci at the top of the Eiffel Tower, which would be ultimate #squadgoals if that was still a thing.

The Beckhams (Versace black leather, 1999) and Britney and Justin (double denim, 2001) must be gutted that Instagram arrived too late for their twinning heydays. Can you imagine the likes on THIS?