Fashion is like the wind; it goes wherever it pleases, picking up leaves of inspiration along the way from, sometimes, even the most unlikely tree. Over the years, fashion and art have co-existed with each other, complemented each other and sometimes over-lapped each other; truly making fashion wearable art.
So, here are some examples of this season fashions, taking a paintbrush and resembling ideas from some of the most famous paintings.
Aquilano Rimondi and Pablo Picasso
This dress reminded me of Picasso’s blue period, with the midnight blue damask pattern on top and the textured stitching of the metallic cerulean underneath. The layering of patterns on this dress is what really makes it resemble the multi-toned layers of blue in Picasso’s art and the frame, given by the thick layer of black leather at the hem and neckline, really helps to bring the different textures together into what can be truly considered as an elegant dress.
Picasso’s Melancholy Woman; dress from Aquilano Rimondi F/W ’12
Temperley London and Pierre-Auguste Renoir
The black cape and fur-hat combination drew my thoughts immediately to The Umbrellas by Pierre-Auguste Renoir. This outfit is of a more ornate and expensive taste then of the character in the picture, but I like to think that this is more of a modern day ensemble for classic and elegant winter-wear.
The Umbrellas (‘Les Parapluies’) by Pierre-Auguste Renoir; outfit from Temperley London F/W ’12
John Galliano and Georgia O’Keeffe
The way the pleated chiffon of this dress just splays out as the model walks down the runway, much like a flower’s petals, reminded me of Red Canna by Georgia O’Keeffe. The layered fabric results in some areas of the dress building up in this deep crimson and other areas having only a thin layer of a much lighter red, almost opaque as it flows down the runway. The halter-neck of the dress is tied with a sweet yet elegant bow, thus furthering the feminine feel just emanating from this outfit.
Red Canna by Georgia O’Keeffe; John Galliano F/W ’12
Alberta Ferretti and John Singer Sargent
This clean cut black dress instantly reminded me of John Singer Sargent’s Portrait of Madame X. This dress, while lacking in the bejewelled straps and sweet-heart neckline, still maintains that air of gothicism and sophisticated mystery; leaving you asking the question: who is that woman? My advice would be to get a dress like this, revealing just enough yet not too much, in order to be the most talked about person on any occasion.
John Singer Sargent’s Portrait of Madame X; gown by Alberta Ferretti, F/W ’12
Proenza Schouler and Hokusai
This oriental patterned dress brought images of The Great Wave off Kanagawa, a famous Japanese painting by Hokusai. The mixing blue and white hues create an oceanic ambience, and the black framed folds at the bottom of the dress really add some edginess to what would otherwise be a dress as calm as the sea. The traditional oriental style format brings a mix of culture, couture and chic; the 3 C’s women should never live without!
The Great Wave off Kanagawa by Hokusai; Proenza Schouler F/W ’12
Fashion, as mentioned before, takes inspiration from anywhere but the most frequent, most elegant and most daring pieces have always resembled art. Fashion and art, art and fashion: two peas in a pod that must never be separated and will remain, forevermore, holding hands side-by-side. Were it not for these two jigsaw pieces in what is now known as modern culture, I’m not quite sure where we’d be. All I know is that we wouldn’t look or feel this good.
