Historical and Artistic Styles

Here are a few images that represent historical styles in fashion
*Fashion from Byzantine Empire -






*Etro - Spring/Summer 09




*Byzantine Empire

**Note the inspiration and co-relation to the textile design and inspiration taken from the historical byzantine fashion

*Balenciaga Fall 09



*Grecian empire -


**Note the draping inspiration taken from the historical Greece costume, however, Balenciaga used this design and draped skirts and pants in this collection

*Alexander McQueen - Fall 08



*Gothic influence - note the similarities in fabric usage and ruffles

Genealogy of a garment - JUMPSUIT

The definition of a jumpsuit is a one-piece garment with sleeve and leg openings. Because of its basic form and shape it was used as a uniform for many people. It served its purpose to aviator pilots, parachuters, skydivers, boilersuits, prison inmate, etc. Throughout the times, it has now taken over the fashion industy and catwalks becoming more and more trendy as the years surpassed, even up until this day.

Here is an image taken in a 1960's black and white ad. This would be considered a jumpsuit - capri because of its length. The form and silhouette is still original - one piece with sleeve and leg opening.


In this picture is the famous Amelia Earhart...here you can see she is wearing an aviator jumpsuit while she stands in front of one her planes. This picture was taken on June 14, 1928.



This picture was taken in the early 1970's of a woman wearing in a colorful palazzo inspired jumpsuit. Colorful prints and palazzo inspired jumpsuits were popular in this era. Jumpsuits were becoming more and more fashionable, but it was still a one-piece garment.



Here is a jumpsuit designed by Thierry Mugler in the 1980's - made in light wool crepe. Designers began to play around with the silhouette by using different fabrics for drapery and soft curves. Again, it is still a one-piece garment


Here are pictures of jumpsuits in the making as of today. Here you see a variety of form and functions that designers are using to come up with more innovative ways to reinvent the jumpsuit. No matter how much the silhouette or look has changed, these garments are still considered jumpsuits because it is still a one-piece garment with sleeve and leg openings. The only difference is that serves more than just a "uniform purpose", but serves as a reinvented classic fashion piece that could possibly never go out of style.

HISTORICAL DRAPED GARMENTS/TAILORED GARMENTS

DRAPED GARMENTS


Here is a great picture depicting the talented Madame Vionnet, known for introducing the bias cut in the 1920's. Her signature silhouette was a form-fitting look w/ dramatic draping effects. (link- http://www.luxchronicles.com)



This is an illustration showing various ways on how to wear a traditional egyptian robe with sash (about 1450 BC). As you can see, it can be interpreted and draped in a variety of ways creating different looks with one special cut fabric.



The various ways on how one can wear a traditional sari silk can be seen here in this painting created by a famous Indian painter named Ravi Varma. Sari silk (usually 4-9 meters) can be draped over the body in many different ways, but most common style is wrapped around the waist and draped over the shoulder, usually worn over petticoat.

TAILORED GARMENTS


Here is the original and famous "new look" established in 1947 by Christian Dior that was featured in his 1947 Spring/Summer fashion show. Harpers Bazaar named it the "new look" because they felt it was new and fresh to the fashion industry which they had yet to see until his fashion show. I consider this a tailored look because it definitely has structure in the silhouette/body.



The geisha apprentice girls depicted here dress slightly different from the geisha women whose title must be earned. The kimono and obi belt create so much structure because the layers of clothing that is underneath and how it is specifically and technically structured - it takes 15 components to create and design this particular type of garment! There is definitely structure in this! (Photo taken in Kyoto, Japan by photographer Michael Reeve March 26, 2004)



Here is a greek traditional military costume. In Athens, Greece they take this type of tradition very seriously and hold much respect and care when men wear this. There is definitely some type of structure in this in the way the men wear this and how body stands upright when wearing it.

6 functions of dress

6 functions of dress:
*ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION - In these pictures you will find that the tradition of the Tibetan people are to dress in very heavy, layered clothing based on their of way living and protection. Because they live in harsh terrain and snowy mountains, they are forced to dress in such a way. This dated back in the Qing dynasty (1644-1911) and upheld the traditional way of dress from their ancestors. However, they have developed their own sense of fashion by way of adding special hand beading and layers of accessories - bracelets, necklaces, earrings, belts wraps, etc.

http://www.snowlandcraft.com/images/national_costume_design/big/ngari_traditional_dress.gif

http://viaterra.net/photos/china/tibet-ladiesb2.jpg

*DECORATION - Here you will find images of tattoos that can be considered as "decorations" for the human body. An individual with tattoos can identify themselves through this type of art, or can give them a sense of belonging to a group. Others are simply inspired by way of seeing it on celebrities and may have the desire to do the same. (

http://www.instablogsimages.com/images/2007/09/25/lower-back-tattoos_1822.jpg

http://isiria.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/tattooconventionberlin2007.jpg

*GENDER DIFFERENTIATION - This picture taken from gossip girl advertisement shows gender differentiation in the way the uniforms were design for male and female.

http://media.photobucket.com/image/school%20uniform%20gossip%20girl/vlengel555/gossip-girl19.jpg

*GROUP MEMBERSHIP - This image represents a particular culture/group known as "rock-a-billy". In this sexy form of fashion, the women can also be referred to as "pin-up" girls - hair is usually in up-do's, red dark lipstick, 50's inpsired fashion, form-fitting clothing, jeans, plaid, etc. Men usually dress in "billy dean-bad country boy" type of look - folded jeans at the bottom hem, black or white t-shirts with rolled up sleeves, elvis-inspired hairdo, etc. ladieslotto.blogspot.com/2008/01/love-song-ex...
*CEREMONIAL - These images represent a traditional filipino dress known as a "barong tagalog" that is normally worn for weddings or special occasions. It is natural pina-organza fabric (fibers from the pineapple) that was originally worn by the villagers in the philippines. This was a way for them to make their clothing because they couldnt afford to buy clothes, they were forced to make them. Hence, the tradition and look carried one generation to another. For women, it is also referred to as a "filipiniana gown". Some are designed with butterfly sleeves.

http://www.filipinasoul.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/quentin-tarantino-barong-tagalog.jpg

www.barongsrus.com/.../c24_32/index.html

*SEXUAL ENHANCEMENT - Heels can be considered as a sexual enhancement because no matter what a person wears with heels - it enhances their look and adds sex appeal. Whether you are in jeans, pj's, or running a race (see attched), once you add heels to any of your outfits, it makes you look taller, sexier, arches your back, hence you making you FEEL sexier, taller, and empowered!

http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/05_03/GwynAdHeelsGOFF_468x363.jpg

http://english.people.com.cn/200607/10/images/heel1.jpg

http://internetservices.readingeagle.com/blog/cities/high%20heels.jpg

visuals and references

Attached are some visuals/references that inspire or interest me when it comes to designing clothes...

inspiration

Welcome to my blog site. Here you will find inspirations and visuals that reflect things that interest me and inspire me. I am most interest in a variety of elements from different cultures, from hand-beading, embroidery, to custom traditional dressing. Also love the beauty of draping...I find theres nothing better than learning how the fabric can "talk" to you and inspire you by giving mulitple ideas by the movement and behavior of the fabric. Enjoy!