Historical & Artisitic Styles

 MISSION:

Compile 6 images of fashion designs that show influences from historical artistic styles. Each image should be different and from a different artistic style. Label each image with the appropriate designer/date as well as the artistic style/artist/time period that you are relating the garment to. In addition, each image should be accompanied by text stating its relevance.

1. June 2009 : These models are wearing fashion inspired by Berlin's East Side Gallery paintings and pose for photographers on Berlin's Pariser Platz. The East Side Gallery is a 1.3 km-long portion of the Berlin wall taken over by artists.  

 2. This 60's A-line paper dress designed by The American Campbell Soup Company was created with Andy Warhol's Campbell's Soup Can in mind. 

3. Girogio Armani's 2010 runway show featured another form or art imitating life. With the works of Richard Hambelton as the backdrop for his presentation, Armani sent his ladies down a brick-colored catwalk in heavy black fabrics like velvet and fur -- mimicking the darkness of the "Shadowman" paintings.

4. Samantha Treacy at Lisa Kline was featured in Marie Claires 2009 article regarding painting inspired work. Here, we see Jackson Pollock this designer shirt.

5. Inspired by old masters' paintings, Alexander McQueen's last show included rich fabrics in bold, luscious colors with ornate detailing.Here we see one of his pieces compared to a painting by Apollonio di Giovanni from 1463.

6. In January of 2009 Andrew Matusik used Rene Magritte as his main inspiration for a fashion editorial spread in Genlux Magazine's Winter issue. Being a photographer, I think it's interesting when Fashion PHOTOGRAPHY is also influenced by art. The way Magritte painted these images, Matusik painted and worked in photoshop to create his own beautiful work.

Project 4

The Maxi

In the 1970's the maxi skirt became a very popular fashion among young women.  We find that unlike the popular mini skirt of the 1960's, the women of the 70's chose the maxi as a sort of anit-mini skirt. The 70's gave women a choice to cover up where they had revealed more just a decade before. 

The Maxi has continued to reappear in fashion. Long skirts were all the rage in the 90's as I remember my sister looking so cool in her long skirt as she left for high school. In the popular television shows of the 90's such as Dawson's Creek and Roswell, they brought back the maxi in a cooler way. In the early 2000's they reappeared again as one of the Olsen twins elegantly strutted her stuff down the red carpet.

 

Most recently, in a runway show that showed a multiple maxi skirt fashions for Spring 2011, Bensoni's collection was both beautiful and inspiring. As stated on the Mercedez Benz Fashion Week Official Site, "Benjamin Channing Clyburn and Sonia Yoon’s brand Bensoni embodies the designers’ distinct, yet cohesive, styles with an exquisitely tailored look at femininity." Adding to the long run of gorgeous and historic Maxi skirt this season was Bensoni.

 

Geneology of a Garment

 Baseball Caps

I chose the Baseball cap as my garment not only because I rock them, but because MANY do! It is a garment that doesn't discriminate from race, to sex or age, or socio-economic status. It's not specific to just the baseball field but to all walks of life.   

The first baseball caps were worn by the New York Knickerbockers in 1845 and they were made of straw. They were also the 1st sports team to wear uniforms, but that's besides the point. The caps were used to keep the sun out of the players eyes when pop-flys occurred. 

Then about 100 years later when WWII happened, they formed the women's baseball league! In 1942 women traded in their formal hats for baseball caps and took to the fields in the male fashion. Also it was less offensive to see a woman in pants at this time. 

Now you see forms of baseball caps everywhere! The trends touch the vast scopes of fashion. Trucker Hats became popular in fashion when Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie wore them on their reality show in 2004, but they have been known by truckers and farmers for years. 

        

They're worn for other sporting events not including baseball. Like whenever a team wins the Superbowl, the first thing all the players do is put on their championship baseball hats! 

And last but certainly not the least of all baseball cap fashions is the style that the hip hop / rap community has really started. Wearing the cap with a flat bill, often with the tags  still attached. 

My Mission:

What prominent contemporary designers are taking inspiration from military fashion and in which way they are conceptualizing war as a theme?

In 2010 we saw a lot of glitz and glam from Balmain in his spring collection. The line included older fashioned military jackets with poofed shoulders and chains. With the added gold chains of course! It also had a some chain mail as well as gold leafed greece influence as well. Not to mention the laced up heel boots shown here.

 

Most recently, Mackage showed Military in their Spring 2011 collection just a few months ago. The use of military green and khaki is shown here as well as silver stars for ornament. The cut of the pants as well as the belt seem to have a masculine feel and could portray a military trouser. 

Drapery vs. Tailored

My Mission : 

Compile 3 images of historical draped garments, and 3 of historical tailored garments. Note that each image much correspond to a different culture or historical time. Make sure that you label each image with the approximate date, name of the garment, culture, region, etc. In addition, the image should be accompanied by a sentence stating its relevance. 

Drapery

In Michelangelo's Pieta, we can see the beautiful work done in the detail of the drapery. 

This is history's proof of drapery in garment hundred's of years ago.

If we flash forward to the 1930's we see drapery in the dresses of the Silver Screen stars in Hollywood. As we know, during the 30'd the cinema was very influential for fashion during the Great Depression, so this garment was chosen specifically.       

In the 1990'd to present, Mexican Dancers entertain with their beautifully draped gowns that fly about dancing as they do.

Now in present day, we see drapery in the gowns of Ralph Lauren. His Spring 2011 fashion show was classic drapery with a twist.

Tailoring: 

The Military is very particular about the code and honor they have about their clothing. The hem line and cuff must be of a certain measurement, the belt worn at the correct place, the coat must fit perfectly. So in this case, I believe the military in any decade is a great example of tailored clothing. 

Spanish Matadors have a certain prestige tradition about the uniform they wear while bull fighting. It instills tradition and taunts the bull as well as entertains the audience.    

Here we see tailor made apparel for women in this NY Mercedez Benz Fashion week garment. As Badgley Mischka designed this look for women, this high waisted pant 
is tailored to fit her body perfectly.  

6 Different Functions of Dress

This week our objective is to find photos exemplifying the 6 different functions of Dress and explain how they fit into each category!

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1. Environmental Protection

In the ocean, surfers need to protect their bodies from the icy cold water. They need speciality suits, seen here by Patagonia to keep their bodies warm while out. 

All in the price of catching a perfect wave. 

2. Decoration

Lady Gaga uses much decoration in her look to create her own Gaga-esque flavor when she steps on the scene! In this look, the spikes and crystals add a flare to the whole look.

3. Gender Differentiation

For me, the example of Gender Differentiation is clear at sporting events. Females are mostly the entertainment at profession sports events and their clothing distinguishes them form the men, on the field or in the stands. 

4. Group Membership

Gang's often use fashion and colors to distinguish between who is and isn't in their gang/group. The Crypts and Bloodz are clear examples of group dress. 

5. Ceremonialism

I'll use one from my own culture and choose Quinceaneras! Whenever I see one happening, it always looks like a big wedding for a 13 year old! It is a very fancy event where there is a big ceremony and party held for the young girls debut as a young woman!

6. Sexual Enhancement

Megan Fox is a product of sexual enhancement success. Though not among the greatest actors of our time, Megan Fox will squeak by with a cleavage shot and a smile in every box office flop she makes! However, she happens to be the most perfect example of sexual enhancement! 

Mercedes Benz NY Fashion Week 2010

My Mission : Name designers that inspired me, my opinions of the collection in general, and the designer specifically!

Though fun filled as I'm sure the entire week was as a whole, my favorite designers were: 

• The Argentine Designers Collection

I enjoyed this collection for its vibrant colors and wearablity. I love that there were so many different looks in this particular line and that the designers completed many pieces for the show. 

 

• Christian Siriano

I really loved all the bright and deep reds he chose to use in the show. Furthermore, the drapery highlighted a classic style in a fresh new way.

• Nicole Miller

I really loved this line in particular. The show began with a white on white approach that was so appealing to me and the intricate work as each design walked away was an added surprise and bonus. Some of the prints were ambitious, yet still very beautiful.