French Fashion Show
spring 2016
While the fashion show seemed like only a bunch of fun, there was actually much time and thought put into the styling, coordination, and execution of each outfit. Our French Fashion class has studied the styles and trends of France dating back to the 17th century and King Louis XIV, one of the most stylish pioneers of French fashion and culture. Many people fail to realize how trends are forever evolving, yet repeating and recurring. This fashion show was not only to sport and strut our own, personal styles for our friends and family, but it was also an ode to the French fashion and culture that has so greatly inspired current trends and fashion. While trends like corsets and body shapers never go out of style, the trends that are most popular now that derived from French fashion and the trends are: black/le smoking, military/nautical, and elegant/floral/Christian Dior-inspired. These are the French styles and trends that inspired our show.
inspiration
le smoking & black
'Le smoking' is a concept and fashion trend that was created by one of the most influential French fashion designers, Yves Saint Laurent. Not only is Yves Saint Laurent popular and controversial for his use and incorporation of African American models in his collections, but he is also known for breaking down gender barriers that so often stifle creativity and the fashion industry. In the 1960s, Yves Saint Laurent created the le smoking tuxedo, pant suit for women. This completely changed the game and gave women a strong sense of empowerment. Before this, women were not seen wearing something so masculine, as a tuxedo. However, it was Yves Saint Laurent's genius that somehow preserved feminity, while communicating masculinity and liberation on the same note. In our show, we used Yves Saint Laurent's idea of "le smoking" and incorporated the minimalistic, yet androgynous concept. While colors remained simply black and white, the fabrics, textures, and gender-breaking surprises kept the show interesting. Female models sported their suit jackets, while the male models also boasted their masculinity with bare chests and black sleek silhouettes. Modern day culture has strongly adopted the idea of the womens' pant suit, and as gender equality has come to the forefront of society's issues, gender and creative expression have become even more free. Plus, we all know, every French person's favorite color to wear is black.
military & nautical
It is no secret that CoCo Chanel changed the rules of fashion forever, and continues to dominate haute couture and fashion, alltogether. But where did she get her inspiration? Chanel started as a hat maker but quickly evolved into one of the most influential fashion designers in the world. While Chanel was infamous for her dating life, and even accused of being in "good relations" with the Nazi regime, her clothing was greatly inspired by the military. Chanel was a key player in liberating women and women's fashion. During and after WWII, she reconstructed military jackets and clothing and created women's wear. This became an immediate trend and women's clothes began to have more structure, but also allowed for more movement and activity that heavy dresses often kept them from pursuing. Women were seen outdoors more often, by the beach and on the water in boats, which inspired nautical style fashion trends birthed by Chanel herself. Chanel remains a popular fashion brand today, and her ideas and trends still live on. Not only are her iconic items like the chains, handbags and twill coats still floating around in the fashion universe, but her militant approach to fashion also survived. Army greens, khaki/beiges, browns, greys, and horizontal stripes are obviously colors borrowed directly from militant uniiforms and designs. Today, fashion designers, like Kanye West and his Yeezy collection are very much inspired by military style clothing. Military style jackets/coats, fitted military cut shirts and pants, and even military hats have resurfaced in the fashion world, and perhaps never went anywhere to begin with.
dior & femininity
Christian Dior has mastered the art of femininity in fashion, and his influence on women's wear (and even in men's wear) has been astronomical. No one can escape a Dior fragrance commercial these days. Dior focuses mainly on bows, lace, sequins, floral, dresses, white, black, pink, beige, red and gold. Dior, like all haute couturre brands, place huge importance in the trininty:1) elitism, 2) eroticism, and 3) history. With large skirts and dresses that accentuate the waist, Dior always finds a way to show off feminine curves which scream femininity and women empowerment. Dior always seems to have the best celebrity endorsmenets such as Rihanna and Charlize Theron. Dior is classic beauty, Dior is timeless, and Dior will forever have a direct influence on elegant fashion.
