With the end of the year nearing, we are still trying to figure things out moving forward. Despite, there has been an onset of revolutionary change (both good and bad) making its mark in history from weather to the economy, politics, retail, and of course fashion. The past two seasons we've seen major 1950's influences grace the runway leaving Spring 2013 to be quite progressive with its bold, black and white optical aesthetic. And as a result, this renewed Mod look is making a statement all over the press and internet. We need a change and we don't yet know what that change is. Therefore, we look to the exact opposite of the spectrum for answers.
The longer, fuller, more restrictive looks of the 1950's were followed by a drastic change in aesthetic of the 1960's as radical Mod and Space Age influences became all the rage. From conservative to dramatic color contrasts and avant garde influences, this is the exact shift we are seeing in our present day as we move forward in the modern age of technology.
Super saturated colors have been the thing for so long now that we are beginning to progress towards a more minimal, neutral color palette. We've noticed this not only on the catwalk with designers like Marc Jacobs, Balenciaga, Michael Kors, Louis Vuitton, and Moschino, but through advertisements and prints reminiscent of black and white photographs like Proenza Schouler's fall campaign for example.
The art world is on board to as the Tate Modern in London showcases fashion photographer William Klein's black and white shots and the Guggenheim displays Picasso's Black and White exhibit, both running now through the end of January. “Black-and-white removes a layer of reality and allows you to see the world in a different way. There is a classicism in the imagery, so when you see it down the years, it makes more of a mark," explains photographer Steven Klein.
As we already know, history always repeats itself so at this point, it's all about reinventing the past, specifically the 1960s. Tom Sachs brought the space age back with his imaginary Mars Exhibit last spring. Nars Cosmetics is doing it with its Andy Warhol Collection, which even has a Facebook Profile Makeover app so fans can "Warholize" their photos. Marc Jacobs brought the spirit of a 21st century Edie Sedgwick to life on the spring runway with 18-year old model Ruby Jean Wilson. Not to mention his new campaign is mod to the max with the help of the young model, optical illusion prints, and sight-bending mirrors.
No industry knows reinvention better than the fashion industry with designers not only launching fresh collections at least twice a year, but major fashion houses updating artistic and creative directors as well. With that said, Marc Jacobs is for sure the master of renewing himself as he goes from layered and embellished one season to simple and clean the next. Just last spring, it was announced Raf Simmons was leaving Jil Sander for Dior. This spring, Jil Sander returned to her namesake and kicked it off with a "Reset to Zero" themed collection. What was once Yves Saint Laurent is now Saint Laurent as part of Hedi Slimane's makeover as creative director. And the latest shake up, Balenciaga and Nicolas Ghesquière are parting ways with much gossip fluttering around about who will fill his shoes next.
So what does this mean? Well, for one, this indicates that a combination of both simplicity and drama represents not only future aesthetics, but future ideals. Just look at H&M's new luxury line, & Other Stories. With a trendy retailer like H&M going meaningful and minimal, maybe we are finally reaching the peak of fast fashion and making a point to slow down, or maybe it's merely an illusion. Either way, a struggle to balance today's savvy digital age with the slower ways of doing things that once were, is producing something in itself by making sense of reality with an entirely new perception.
The longer, fuller, more restrictive looks of the 1950's were followed by a drastic change in aesthetic of the 1960's as radical Mod and Space Age influences became all the rage. From conservative to dramatic color contrasts and avant garde influences, this is the exact shift we are seeing in our present day as we move forward in the modern age of technology.
photo via Oyster Mag
Super saturated colors have been the thing for so long now that we are beginning to progress towards a more minimal, neutral color palette. We've noticed this not only on the catwalk with designers like Marc Jacobs, Balenciaga, Michael Kors, Louis Vuitton, and Moschino, but through advertisements and prints reminiscent of black and white photographs like Proenza Schouler's fall campaign for example.
photo via ft.com
video via Mashable
As we already know, history always repeats itself so at this point, it's all about reinventing the past, specifically the 1960s. Tom Sachs brought the space age back with his imaginary Mars Exhibit last spring. Nars Cosmetics is doing it with its Andy Warhol Collection, which even has a Facebook Profile Makeover app so fans can "Warholize" their photos. Marc Jacobs brought the spirit of a 21st century Edie Sedgwick to life on the spring runway with 18-year old model Ruby Jean Wilson. Not to mention his new campaign is mod to the max with the help of the young model, optical illusion prints, and sight-bending mirrors.
photo via NY Times
No industry knows reinvention better than the fashion industry with designers not only launching fresh collections at least twice a year, but major fashion houses updating artistic and creative directors as well. With that said, Marc Jacobs is for sure the master of renewing himself as he goes from layered and embellished one season to simple and clean the next. Just last spring, it was announced Raf Simmons was leaving Jil Sander for Dior. This spring, Jil Sander returned to her namesake and kicked it off with a "Reset to Zero" themed collection. What was once Yves Saint Laurent is now Saint Laurent as part of Hedi Slimane's makeover as creative director. And the latest shake up, Balenciaga and Nicolas Ghesquière are parting ways with much gossip fluttering around about who will fill his shoes next.
video via Daily Motion
So what does this mean? Well, for one, this indicates that a combination of both simplicity and drama represents not only future aesthetics, but future ideals. Just look at H&M's new luxury line, & Other Stories. With a trendy retailer like H&M going meaningful and minimal, maybe we are finally reaching the peak of fast fashion and making a point to slow down, or maybe it's merely an illusion. Either way, a struggle to balance today's savvy digital age with the slower ways of doing things that once were, is producing something in itself by making sense of reality with an entirely new perception.
