A Convergence of Cultures: Fashion as an Art Form

The turn of the 21st century has seen the blurring of boundaries between fashion and art. Not only has fashion assisted in the popularisation of art, but art has also assisted in giving fashion cultural worth. Although the obvious parallelisms between fashion and art lie within their aesthetic value, fashion like art, can have depth and complexity in its form and meaning. And thus fashion should gain the same artistic recognition and be regarded as of the same status as art. This blogpost will take a brief glance at some of the most significant ways in which fashion and art undeniably intersect. 

Saint Laurent, Yves. 1965. “Yves Saint Laurent: Mondrian Dress.”  Image. Accessed 30 May 2016. http://www.vogue.com/slideshow/12888984/cult-dresses-in-fashion-dressgate/

This image is of Yves Saint Laurent’s iconic Mondrian dress from his 1965 Autumn/Winter collection, of which was inspired by Dutch artist Piet Mondrian. Mirroring Mondrian’s painting, the wool shift dress features large blocks of primary colours. Just as art has looked to the underlying themes of fashion, such as consumerism and materiality for bodies of work, fashion also often draws inspiration from art. The borrowing of ideas from art to fashion has more than just decorative use; it allows fashion to be viewed like art, as having underlying ideas, as being subjective and conceptually rich. It is through this exchange and application of associated ideas that allows fashion and art to collide and encourages the relationship to blossom.

McQueen, Alexander. 1999. “Alexander McQueen Spring/Summer 1999

No 13.” Image. Accessed 28 May 2016. https://astairwaytofashion.com/2013/09/21/dresses-that-changed-the-history-of-fashion-forever-part-1/

This image is of model Shalom Harlow in the finale look at Alexander McQueen’s 1999 Spring/Summer collection. Harlow stood on a rotating platform wearing a white cotton muslin dress whilst two live robots spray-painted her with black and yellow spray paint. The use of theatrics and performative art on the runway has vastly changed not only fashion, but the visual spectacle of the fashion show as a whole. The fashion show has shifted from being a display of clothes for consumption and purchase, to a conceptual performance that constructs ideas around beauty, the body and identity, to provoke thoughts about the self. The fashion show is a live performance of visual art with clothing as the medium, and this continues to encourage fashion and art to intersect.

Rolf, Viktor. 2011.“Viktor & Rolf Fall 2015: Wearable Art.” Image. Accessed 12 June 2016. http://thelullablog.blogspot.com.au/2015/07/fashion-viktor-and-rolf-haute-couture.html

This image is of two models walking on the runway for Viktor & Rolf’s 2015 Fall collection “Wearable Art.” The models were wearing blue smocks covered by a canvas and frame, and the designers whom stood against the white wall at the back proceeded to carefully remove each artwork from the models bodies and hang them up on the wall. Fashion, more specifically Haute Couture, translates ideas and concepts through clothing on the body.  a form of art is less about the practicality and wearability of clothes and more about translating ideas and concepts through material on the body. The 21st century has seen a shift toward fashion being less about the practicality and wearability of clothes and more about fashion as an artistic practice valuing innovation, experimentation and creativity. 

Vuitton, Louis. 2012. “Louis Vuitton – Marc Jacobs: The Exhibition” Image. Accessed 5 June 2016. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/entertainment/2012-03/09/content_14795810_3.htm

This image is of an onlooker admiring the Louis Vuitton and Marc Jacobs exhibition at the Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris in 2012.  The exhibition showcased and celebrated both Jacobs’ and Vuitton’s contributions to not only the brand but to the fashion industry as a whole. The turn of the 21^st century has seen fashion and more specifically haute couture, introduced into cultural institutions such as museums. The introduction of fashion in museums especially, has been extremely significant in dismissing the perceived notions of frivolity and evanescence surrounding fashion as an art form. And thus, showing exhibitions of fashion amongst the likes of great artists, has elevated the status of designers and given cultural worth and artistic recognition to their work. Fashion penetrating the places and spaces of art is making the boundaries between fashion and art increasingly harder to see.

Vuitton, Louis. 2011.“Billie Achilleos Sculpture Series of Australian Animals.” Image. Accessed 11 June 2016. http://www.australiandesignreview.com/features/34832-the-art-of-fashion

This image is of one of the native Australian animal sculptures that British artist Billie Achilleos created in collaboration with Louis Vuitton for the launch of the Maison Sydney store. These sculptures were made only from the parts of old Louis Vuitton handbags and accessories. As the minds of great designer’s and artists come together in collaboration, art begins to become popularised by fashion gaining interest and exposure from intellectuals in the fashion world. In making art more popular, this also makes art more commercial which in it's irony is something art ceases to strive to be, but is what makes it successful nonetheless. 

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