The art scene has long gone beyond the walls of galleries and museums. Through creative collaborations, it has made its way into a more stylish, but no less impressive platform – fashion. Whether it is traditional art motifs on dresses or bold statements that manifest in avant-garde designs, the marriage of art and style has created an innovative and powerful form of expression. “Art as Attire: Translating Artistic Concepts into Fashionable Ensemble” takes a deeper look at this powerful union and the trend of combining art and style.
1. From Canvas to Cloth: Merging Art and Fashion
The marriage of art and fashion has been one that has blossomed in both obvious and more subtle ways, gradually becoming a major influence on both as they merge together to form a cohesive concept. By taking popular art from the canvas to the cloth they have opened up a whole new realm of creativity for both worlds.
- One of the most clearly noticed influences of art in fashion are some of the iconic prints used on clothing across multiple brands. These prints often include items, animals, or symbols inspired from an artist’s work.
- Over the years, the more creative collaborations have involved designers actually working alongside an artist. This has allowed them to interpret a painting onto a garment, blurring the lines between art and fashion.
- Sometimes taking even less literal items from art, there have been multiple examples of using the energy or theme of a piece to create a collection, allowing the artist to influence an entire collection.
- It has become increasingly popular for the fashion world to use upcoming or established painters, illustrators, and sculptors to act as muses to create clothing. This allows for an imaginative collaboration that can only come with art and fashion together.
By bringing together art and fashion, they both have adopted, grown, and changed in ways that may have not been seen before. By allowing the creativity to flow from both areas, these collaborations bring something fresh and unique to the fashion world.
2. Exploring Artistic Influences in Fashion Design
Fashion design is a creative medium that takes its inspiration from many sources — and artistic influences are just one of them. Art has the capacity to shape and inspire the way we dress, and many designers find themselves drawing from the art world when creating new looks.
- Museum to the Runway There is no shortage of designers that look to the classic works of art in their local museum for inspiration. From the abstract to the figurative, fine art can provide a new perspective on design. Takara Wong, for example, looks to traditional Chinese paintings for her clothing lines, drawing advice from the colors and shapes of classic brushwork.
- Cross-Cultural Exchanges Art has the power to break down boundaries, particularly styles of art from other countries. Collection No. 18, of ‘Three Crises’ fame, embraces this approach. By working with the evolution of Japanese fashion through its contemporary art and traditional shoemaking, the label celebrates the blending of cultural influences.
- Material Appreciation Art is also known to push boundaries in the way of materials, and fashion is no different. Take the example of Maison Margiela. This designer uses materials and fabrics in more creative and unexpected ways, such as transforming newspaper into shirts. In this way, art can inform the way in which we see and use more traditional fabrics.
- The Digital Realm With the rise in technology, more and more fashion brands turn to new digital sources for inspiration. From avant-garde Instagram accounts to VR-enabled fashion shows, digital tools provide new opportunities for garments to be seen in a different light. Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garçons is a great example of this, and her labels often draw on the styles of art and the digital world.
At any given time, fashionfans can often find direct references to art in the collections being shown on the runway. From high street names to classic couture houses, art has undoubtedly taken a central role in the ever-shifting fashion landscape. Through the digital, the physical and the cultural, art will continue to be a major influence in fashion design.
3. Transforming Aesthetic Expression through Wearable Art
Today, the definition of art and aesthetic expression has altered drastically from its traditional boundary. Wearable art is a way of transforming aesthetic expression – a form of decoration and creative showcase that combines traditional artistry with a modern approach, seamlessly integrating art into our clothing and accessories.
Unique Handcrafted Pieces
Conventional art, such as paintings, sculptures, and installations often requires space to be viewed. However, wearable art disregards this limitation, allowing art to exist as one-of-a-kind handcrafted pieces which personalize the wearer in a unique manner. Whether it’s a statement dress, statement earrings, an intricate bracelet, or a headscarf – all of these provide a platform for artwork to be seen and more importantly, felt.
Experimenting with Color, Textures, and Patterns
Wearable art allows us to express ourselves through colors, textures, and patterns. As each piece is tailor-made, creators can get creative with the elements they utilize. They can experiment with splashes of vibrant colors, abstract prints, clean lines, and asymmetrical designs.
Organic materials, such as wood, leather, and metals, also provide another layer to combine modern elements with traditional art forms, like carving, embroidery, and weaving. With these techniques, sculptural clothing and accessories are created, which blur the boundaries of traditional art and fashion.
Promoting Sustainable Fashion
Apart from enhancing the aesthetic expression of the wearer, wearable art encourages sustainable fashion. With the majority of these pieces being handcrafted, it promotes the concept of creating with limited resources and using eco-friendly materials that are biodegradable.
All of these elements come together to redefine the boundaries of traditional art, creating a powerful form of expression, all while remaining true to sustainable fashion and traditional art. Wearable art has become a pioneering form of art and expression, continuing to influence its industry and inspiring other forms of creativity too.
4. Making a Statement through Artful Attire
Fashion is a central part of how we make statements to the world. Whether it’s a statement of who we are, or simply to make ourselves feel good, a new outfit can bring life to our self-image. To find the perfect look, it’s important to curate a wardrobe of artful attire.
Create a Color Palette
Starting with neutrals, choose a range of items that can be restyled in a variety of outfits. Keep it classic by combining solids and geometric patterns in soft colors, with a few pops of bright hues. Think of colors that pair together like light blues and bold oranges, and don’t be afraid to add some abstract pieces as well.
Mix and Match
Start with the basics. Choose artful accessories to barcode-up a look, like adding a hot pink bangle to a white linen dress. Oversized sunglasses in glamorous frames look great with a polished T-shirt and jeans. Get creative by mixing textures like leather and lace, and adding layers of bright and pastel colors.
Soaring Silhouettes
When choosing pieces, focus on expressing your individual style and personality. Look for special, standout pieces with clean cuts and interesting details. Avoid trends that are too fleeting, as a bespoke style is timelessly chic. Choose silhouettes that make you feel free and joyful, like a full skirt or statement jumpsuit.
Be Bold
Just remember, when it comes to artful attire, boldness is key. Choose items that allow you to express yourself how you want. Step outside of your comfort zone to create a unique, timeless look that reflects your own personal style.
Art allows us to express ourselves in a unique and personalized way. The concept of bringing artwork off the walls and onto clothing offers a completely different avenue to explore. From incorporating bold prints to wearing artwork on the body, art as attire has the potential to change the face of fashion. Let’s be open to breaking the barriers of traditional style and embrace the power of artistic expression.