Look Back At Some Of The Most Important Crossovers In History As Art And Fashion Collaborate More Than Ever Before
To put it simply, fashion is an art form. To make clothing that people want to wear, you need to be creative and artistic. Like painting and drawing, it brings people together and gives them a way to express themselves.
Author:James PierceReviewer:Paolo ReynaFeb 16, 202282 Shares82.4K Views
Art and fashion are now more intertwined than ever before. The world of fashion is swarming with notable figures from a wide range of the visual arts, from the world of clothing design to the world of catwalk show art direction.
It's not surprising at all. What is fashion if not a form of art that can be worn? Interdisciplinarity is a win-win situation for everyone involved. As a result of this, fashion, which is commonly regarded as one of the more frivolous of the applied arts, gains some serious cachet. While this is going on, the artist is able to reach a larger, more general audience.
This long-standing relationship between the two industries was unearthed when we collided heads with the brilliant editorial arm of fashion destination Lyst (whose brilliant editorial arm The Long Lyst has quickly become one of the web's go-to spots for well-considered fashion news, ideas, stories, and opinion).
We discussed art, while they discussed fashion. Nearly 100 years of boundary-pushing innovation, provocation, and revolution have resulted as a consequence.
Let We Heart and Lyst show you how art and fashion are inextricably linked...
Art And Fashion, The Beginnings Of A Long Relationship
There may be an all-time high in fashion and art collaborations right now. However, it's not a new phenomenon by any means. She was one of the most creative and influential fashion designers of the interwar period.
Some of her best-known works were inspired by Salvador Dali, whose whimsical nature matched her own. There is no other way that the 1937 Lobster dress could have been created than by bringing together such creative minds.
In a nod to Dali's 1934 New York Dream-Man Finds Lobster in Place of Phone, a simple white silk piece featured a large lobster painted by the artist. The Shoe Hat, designed by Salvador Dali and made by Schiaparelli, is equally celebrated in Schiaparelli's impressive collection.
Gala Dal, Dal's wife, modeled the hat, which was fashioned into a high-heeled shoe. In Schiaparelli's Fall/Winter 1937-38 collection, it would appear. In any case, the work stood out regardless of Dali's reputation.
Fashionable Cubism
Piet Mondrian, a Dutch painter, was another early example of the fashion-art crossover. 'Neoplasticism,' as the artist called it, was influenced by cubism as well. Lola Prusac, the designer of Hermès in the 1930s, was inspired by Piet Mondrian's iconic paintings. They would inspire a line of luggage and bags with square inlays of red, yellow, and blue leather, all with white backgrounds and grids of thick black lines.
After his death in 1944, Mondrian's work had a lasting impact on fashion. When Yves Saint Laurent debuted his Fall Mondrian Collection in 1965, it was one of his most significant successes as a designer.
Although other designers had previously experimented with a similar design, it was Saint Lauren's six A-line cocktail dresses that really captured the public's attention. The piece would set a new precedent for the role of art in the fashion industry in the future.
Architectural Influences
Leading fashion designers have been inspired by more than just painters. A creative muse can also be found in the work of architects and the buildings they design. When Coco Chanel said, "Fashion is architecture," she was expressing the importance of this relationship. In this case, it's a matter of scale."
Couturier Paco Rabanne is responsible for some of the most iconic architecturally-inspired garments ever created. Twelve Unwearable Dresses in Contemporary Materials was the title of his first runway show in 1966. Rabanne's dresses were expertly constructed to fit the exact proportions of his models, even though they were made from unusual materials.
This could be because Rabanne had his mother's words of wisdom ingrained in his mind at all times. When it comes to fashion, "don't ever detract from a woman's beauty." No matter what he was working with, Rabanne stayed true to his word.
Contemporary Collaborations
For Alexander McQueen, the art and fashion combination was so successful that they announced an exclusive collaboration with Damien Hirst in 2013.
The result of a collaboration between two of the most ominous figures in contemporary design, this piece is a revelation. Inspired by Hirst's Entomology series, McQueen creates an ethereal and haunting piece. It was, without a doubt, a historic convergence of ideas.
McQueen's collection of 30 chiffon scarves is covered in geometric patterns created by a variety of insects, including butterflies, spiders, and more. Across the art and fashion world, this collaboration was widely praised for its uniqueness. Something that hinted at a long-term interdependence. The rules of the game had changed.
A Mainstream Adoption Of Art In Fashion
Major fashion houses are clearly following suit by incorporating various forms of art and design into their collections today. Kate and Laura Mulleavy have collaborated with major retailers like Gap and Target. It isn't unusual for them to turn to the art world for inspiration.
Rodarte's 2012 collection featured several nods to Vincent Van Gogh's work, including a chiffon dress emblazoned with the artist's signature sunflower print and a subtle nod to the artist's thick brushstrokes in the collection's light fabrics and color palette.
Luxury Leanings
Marc Jacobs, on the other hand, takes artistic inspiration to a whole new level. The conceptual artist Daniel Buren, who worked with Louis Vuitton on their 2013 campaign, called the experience a "totally crazy one." While Jacobs was already using check canvas designs in his clothing, Buren was brought in to design his catwalk show's staging.
While designing his monolithic stage, Buren had complete creative control over every aspect of the production. The escalators even move! The Louvre's central courtyard was transformed into an awe-inspiring display. Bringing art and fashion together in an unforgettable way.
Previously, we've seen how quickly fashion has embraced the concepts of art. From the earliest days of fashion's influence on art, to the current day in which artists' newfound fame is used to market fashion collections. But what about the fashion industry's involvement with art if the relationship is reciprocal?
Collaborations between fashion and art are commonplace, and they call into question any notion that art is superior to fashion in any way. The interdependence of disciplines is also demonstrated by this study.
Cross-Disciplinary Interactions
Takashi Murakami, a contemporary Japanese artist, is rightly regarded as a pioneer of cross-disciplinary crossovers. Both fine art fields of painting and sculpture, along with success in animation and merchandise, simultaneously.
Fashion is a natural medium for Murakami to express himself because of his all-encompassing and commercially savvy approach. And the artist was aware early on that collaborations with the mainstream could help him grow as an artist.
A new project for Murakami came from Marc Jacobs, who invited him to work on a now-famous collection of Luis Vuitton handbags that reimagined the company's signature LV emblem. As a result of the project's enormous success, Murakami and the company formed a long-term creative partnership, which led to additional commercial and critical success with companies like Vans.
Museum-grade Footwear
It is impossible to discuss the art-fashion symbiotic relationship without mentioning Tom Sachs and Nike. Although the American sculptor has produced several high-profile works criticizing the fundamental ideas of luxury brands such as Chanel, he has a love-hate relationship with fashion and commercialism in general.
But the more accessible field of sportswear allowed Sachs to investigate issues of mass-production, economics of scale and environmental impact. Working with Nikecraft, the artist imagined a low-fi mission to Mars and used salvaged materials like car airbags, boat sails, and even a spacesuit to create his futuristic creations for the brand.
The Catwalk As Installation
Vanessa Beecroft, a multidisciplinary artist from Italy, has long used models dressed in high-end couture, courtesy of well-known fashion houses, in her performances. Fashion's fascination with live shows and the theatricality of the catwalk has spawned a number of noteworthy collaborations.
Similarly, Kanye West's Adidas show earlier this year stood out because of Beecroft's influence. According to her performance piece from 2005, VB55, the models did not even walk down a catwalk. As a result, they would remain stationary and hypnotized in their ranks.
Fashion Stardom For 15 Minutes
Finally, we return to Andy Warhol, the master of multidisciplinary art who never ceases to innovate. Pop Art mastermind Andy Warhol had a long-standing interest in fashion, even before the days of fame and The Factory came along. Warhol began his career as a fashion illustrator, creating advertisements for Schiaparelli gloves for glossy magazines.
His most well-known work, the iconic Campbell's soup cans, quickly made the transition from the gallery wall to the fashion runway. In response to his show, New York society girls began wearing dresses printed with can designs. The paper version of the dress, on the other hand, cost $1 and two cans of soup from Campbell's.
After working for Harper's Bazaar, Warhol became a tastemaker in his own right. The Interview magazine was founded by him. For its part, it featured a wide range of fashion figures (designers, models, and fashionistas). When it came to fashion, he didn't separate his professional and personal interests.
Gianni Versace's 1991 Pop Art collection solidified Warhol's place in fashion history after his death. One of the artist's infamous Marilyn Monroe prints was included, this time in a jewel-encrusted form.
Art And Fashion, An Ongoing Romance
There may be ten creatively empty marketing exercises for every meaningful collaboration between art and fashion. Putting cynicism aside, there's no denying the two have always had a mutually beneficial relationship. One that appears to be growing stronger as more of the contemporary art world's top talents move into the fashion industry.
Finally, art and fashion appear to have a long-term relationship. Catwalks and art galleries have a lot in common, and they both serve as sources of inspiration. Art and design can co-exist in order to forge a new path forward at the same time. When you next visit an art gallery, pay close attention to the attire of the visitors. It's possible that someone is wearing a piece of art. Even if they are unaware of it.
Jump to
Art And Fashion, The Beginnings Of A Long Relationship
Fashionable Cubism
Architectural Influences
Contemporary Collaborations
A Mainstream Adoption Of Art In Fashion
Luxury Leanings
Cross-Disciplinary Interactions
Museum-grade Footwear
The Catwalk As Installation
Fashion Stardom For 15 Minutes
Art And Fashion, An Ongoing Romance
James Pierce
Author
Paolo Reyna
Reviewer
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