In fashion, designers take inspiration from various sources, and there are countless possible uses and outcomes of visual research. For some it might be about photographs, architecture and mixed historical periods. For example, Vivienne Westwood, mixing different ages of research together. And other designers focus on clothes-based research, such as clothing types, fabric colors, especially rooted in the background of that age. Willie Walters, course director of the fashion BA at Central Saint Martins, thinks that if we do focus on history of a country, it is so narrow, everything can be an inspiration such as a flower, a tent, or maybe a bathroom floor.
Art- inspired headwear by Stephen Jones at an exhibition of his work at MOMU, Antwerp, Belgium, in 2010-11.
Inspired by Stephen Jones shown here in 2004 retrospective show in New York
In my further research, some fashion designers have often looked to fine art for inspiration, especially during the postwar period, the fine art were to have a huge influence on fashion in London and Paris. For example, Alexander McQueen was much influenced by modern art such as the photography of Joel-Peter Witkin and mixed-media artworks of Damian Hirst. In London, some companies were inspired by Pop art, and use comic –strip prints and bright colors recalled the work of Andy Warhol.
In recent years, fashion designers might pick an obscure art movement and mix the past one with modern elements, disparate elements to create a narrative one. On the contrary, a designer named Vivienne Westwood is much likely to use the art of the past, such as the romantic portraits and idealized landscapes of Fragonard or Gainsborough. The history of fashion and clothing is the designer’s largest resources. And they draw on the past as well as using their own skills, experiences and vision to create for the future.
Reference list:
Borrelli, L (2016) An Art Crawl Through the Spring 2017 Collections. Available from https://www.vogue.com/article/spring-2017-ready-to-wear-fine-arts-trends [Accessed 24 October 2017].
Leach, R (2012) The fashion resource book. London: Thames & Hudson Ltd