Force of Nature examines the complex relationship between fashion and the natural world. The exhibition spans the 18th Century to the present to reveal how nature has influenced fashion, and how fashion can serve as an indicator of society's relationship with the natural world.
The botanical imagery on the first dress represents the natural world untouched by man. McQueen paired the dress with an embossed corset from his Spring/Summer 2009 Collection. The second garment is from the designers final and most acclaimed collection. Nature emerges as McQueens principal theme yet again, this dress features an imaginative blend of python and crocodile!
This stunning evening gown transforms the wearer into a flower, giving her a sensual elegance. Couturier Charles James is said to have envisioned his clients as exotic flowers.
The beautiful little black dress by Karl Lagerfeld references the camellia, an emblem of the house of Chanel. Coco Chanel is said to have preferred the camellia to other flowers. I think the dress on the right, designed by Christopher Kane, is really intriguing. Kane was inspired by diagrams of plant reproduction he saw on a visit to his old high school!
This Bill Cunningham cape and headpiece projects the diversity of colour, pattern and form within bird feathers while keeping the spirit of 1960s fashion. The Cristobal Balenziaga evening gown accentuates the delicate lightness of feathers, a biological material often employed by haute couture.
This dress was designed around the red disc of the Japanese flag, symbolic of the rising sun and the red-crowned crane (a bird highly regarded in Japan). The garment on the right is another piece by McQueen. I love that birds on this dress morph into a beautiful houndstooth pattern.
The applique on this jacket by Oscar de la Renta suggests an elaborate Coral Reef. The designer actually grew up near a major Reef located in the Caribbean!
I think the vibrant pattern on this jacket captures the flashy style of the late 1960s, which brought a colourful and flamboyant feel back into menswear.
This dress immediately caught my eye when I entered the exhibition. It suggests the silhouette of a swan with wings folded across its back. Charles James produced many dresses that capture the essence of living things such as birds and butterflies.
The patterns on animals skins allow them to mimic their natural surroundings so that they disappear into their natural environment. However, it is interesting that in fashion animal patterns are used to make the wearer stand out! These animal patterned garments by Rudi Gernreich explore the notion of clothes as a "second skin".
The first garment is an example of how Space Age fashion was a symbol of youth and modernity. The vinyl appliqué on this pierre cardin dress suggests atomic particles. The second piece, designed by
Mary Katrantzou, is a visual representation of plate tectonics. It features beaded plates mounted on a sheer bodice which are surrounded by a sea of fluid silk. I find is extremely interesting that science and physical geography is being explored through fashion!
The last display in the exhibition fashion explores how designers and companies are beginning to engage in sustainable practices to stop the natural world being exploited as a source of raw materials.
This dress was my favourite piece in the entire collection! It is made of sustainably sourced viscose from Sweden. Stella McCartney is leader in developing eco friendly practices within the fashion industry. I think design of the garment is truly magical, capturing how fashion and nature are constantly intertwined.
The exhibition highlighted the connection that nature has with the fashion industry. It is used through generations as a source of inspiration, direction and as a material. What I love about the exhibitions at the FIT Museum is its ability to display such honourable designers side by side. I loved seeing work by Alexander McQueen and Oscar de la Renta in person!
Thank you,
Hannah
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