Fashion can be looked at in many respects, from high street to high design. Though fundamentally speaking, most trends and ideas will have trickled down from the catwalk, with different interpretations through the brands.
The ability to throw an outfit together is a skill that not everybody has and designers from the high fashion houses push this idea to the extreme; what looks good to you may look like last years off-cuts to somebody else. But fashion is fashion. Its ever-evolving nature and ambitious boldness has the ability to captivate even the least likely fashionista.
I’m not supporting any particular body image views that inherently go hand in hand with the topic of fashion nor do you have to aspire to the catwalk body to follow fashion; but for me fashion is art, fashion is freedom of expression and aspiration. I think of a body as a blank canvass waiting to be dressed and how it is dressed can portray a range of meanings to the observer. I’m not saying our everyday attire should wow the likes of Karl Lagerfeld but a thoughtful outfit can arguably get you a long way, in say, a job interview.
One of my favourite designers has to be Alexander McQueen, whose shows are known for “their emotional power and raw energy, as well as the romantic but determinedly contemporary nature of the collections.” Each of the McQueen collections displays contrasting themes with a subtle nod to British tailoring.
Since Alexander McQueen’s death in 2010, a devastating event in the fashion world, Sarah Burton has taken the role of creative director for the brand. Sharing his vision, she has been able to uphold the ideals that Alexander had set in place, playing homage to his theatrical techniques but also adding her own element to later collections. Sarah Burton will be known to most for the stunning design of Kate Middleton’s wedding dress; the hype alone would be overwhelming to most. Yet, Burton created a concept that many will remember for some time, noticeably McQueen using a combination of contrasting fabrics and British craftsmanship.
Alexander McQueen’s autumn/winter campaign McQ merges the theatrical with edgy gothic scenes and romanticised textures; a contradiction of demure and daring. The picturesque images taken by David Sims are suitable for a gallery.
Perhaps fashion is a never-ending cycle of trends re-emerging and recycling through the seasons, but depending on your standpoint and how you look at it there is something for everyone. For me fashion is expression and high fashion couture is art, the two merge together beautifully and deserve unique appreciation.
