Wednesday, August 13, 2008
When Life Imitates Art
I think I've said this before, but it bears repeating. One of the most tricky roles of a designer is being able to read the pulse of the times, and to translate that into a collection. It's not just about clothes (though sometimes, what girl doesn't want to wear a pretty frock?), it's about fashion and what is, literally, contemporary to our times.
So enough babbling on about fashion. Has anyone caught Hair in the Delacorte Theater this summer? While I wasn't as blown away by the performance as the woman ahead of us in line last week, who was watching the performance for the 3rd time that evening, I was impressed.
The singing was good, there was full frontal all cast nudity so parents beware, and it was a picture perfect summer evening. But what impressed me more about the performance was just how relevant Hair is right now. Race, war, politics...the only thing missing was some reference to the Olympics. Otherwise, the musical could have been set in modern day now rather than some 40 years ago.
So I don't think it was a coincidence that the 70s played so much of an influence in the most recent resort collections. The 70s, you're asking, aren't we mixing up our decades here? Well, to be more precise, it was really the early 70s', those crucial years following the historically relevant 1969, when bell bottoms and Flower Power still weighed strongly on American fashion.
It makes me anxious to see what's in store this September for the shows. I think it will be a clear departure from all the clean lines and tailoring we saw for Fall. The one show I'm really dying for is Prada, whose heavy sportswear theme for Miu Miu is only becoming clear to me now.
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6 comments:
What inspires you Victorya? Or maybe, what is your progression of design? Do you start with fabric or shape or color? etc....
Oh, a lot of things really: stylish girls, the city, art, movies, music, current events, pop culture. But when I design, I go first by the feeling, the mood. That goes for when I'm looking at color stories. It's when I get in to shapes that the left side of my brain starts to kick in a little more.
I would say that that's probably true for most designers, no?
Lagerfeld seems to do it this way (your way) also. He is so concerned with making clothes that are "now" and moving forward.
Some designers say they begin with fabric. But these are perhaps designers that don't play with shape as much. Issey Miyake being an exception of course.
I can't design my way out of a paper bag, so I am just interested as an observer.
The Kaiser? I'm in pretty darn good company then! This will, unfortunately, probably the first and last time any such comparison will be made in the course of my career. Unless I take to wearing high collars and french cuffs.
I like your designs. I liked them when I first saw them on "the show". I wish you the best success.
thats very very nice of you to say...thank you
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