Fashion Without Borders: The Aesthetic Clash Behind Whimsy
Fashion, a seemingly flashy but far-reaching field, has been leading people's pursuit and perception of beauty. From Chanel's introduction of menswear to womenswear at the turn of the last century, to today's bold ideas on the runway, fashion designers are challenging our aesthetic boundaries. However, when the challenge is too radical, it often leads to public skepticism and controversy. Let's explore the reasons for this aesthetic contest.
Torrent bravery, setting new heights
I remember a fashion show in 2022, Alexander McQueen launched a series of nude catwalk looks, pushing the element of nudity to the extreme. When the models with exquisite makeup and extraordinary temperament walked on the runway naked, the audience was unexpected. The image went viral and sparked a heated discussion.
Some people praise Master McQueen's bold innovation, believing that this method is a tribute to the beauty of the human body; Others have accused the practice of being too naked and vulgar. However, no matter what others say, McQueen himself is right: "Nudity is innate, more attractive than any fashion." What I do is to confront the beauty of human nature. "
Looking at the current fashion circle, it is not uncommon for this kind of design to repeatedly break through people's aesthetic bottom line. Balenciaga Jacquemus' "Minimal Thong" at the Spring/Summer 2022 show; Givenchy's cut-out dew point outfit from last season; And the controversial Demna jeans for Balenciaga that slit to the "key point"... In the lenses of the designers, there seems to be no more forbidden areas.
Not necessarily! Let's look at these controversial designs from a different perspective. Those Looks, which are questioned as "too exposed", may be the designers who are thinking about and exploring eternal themes such as human nature, gender, and the body in their own way. These fashions may be closer to the true face of people than the clothes we usually wear.
Art doesn't come from reticence, that's exactly what it is. The so-called "fashion avant-garde" stems from the designers' unremitting pursuit of beauty and identity. They do not simply regard the exposure of the human body as a showman, but peel off the shell cage of human nature one by one, and remind us loudly: do not be imprisoned by the existing aesthetics.
Pure motives do not represent paranoia
While praising the artistic pursuits of designers, we should also examine the possible paranoia in them. Thinking back to the "Rashomon" incident that happened in China a few years ago, it seems that at first glance, designers borrowed from Oriental elements while not even being able to do the most basic cultural respect, which is worth pondering.
It all started in the spring and summer of 2018. At Paris Fashion Week, the Spanish brand Lesia unveiled a series of designs inspired by traditional Chinese elements, including cotton T-printed with the word "lewd" in Chinese cursive script and the shape of imitation Chinese knots. When the designer tried to pardon the public for the sake of "artistic expression", Chinese netizens scolded this wrong practice.
This incident reflects a common problem: in today's globalized world, Eastern and Western cultures are like two torrents stirring and colliding with each other. How not to lose their way in this torrent, how to learn from foreign cultures with an open and inclusive mind, and how not to lack the most basic cultural literacy, requires designers to have a higher cultural accomplishment and the ability to weigh art and business.
Joke about "shy nudity"
In addition to the two aspects mentioned above, fashion designers also need to reflect on how to avoid being "too straightforward" and losing artistry while being bold and innovative.
Here's an interesting fact that illustrates this. It was at the beginning of the last century, when Chanel launched a "punk revolution", that she launched a series that could be described as amazing. Not to mention anything else, just bringing the silk women's underwear to the public is enough to be accused of "inferiority".
Still, we don't see any explicit designs in Chanel's collections. All the works show a noble, restrained sensuality, just a few curves are enough to make people can't take their eyes off. This attraction is not based on physiological instinct, but more from the noble taste of the designer himself.
This is like a glimpse of Chai Lang Pig casting an obsession with the audience: why do people be fascinated by it? In addition to seeing the seductive flesh on the surface, more than that, it is because of the fleeting reverie, which makes people have endless reverie and yearning for that subtle taste. Fashionable as it is, so it is complex.
Fashion can be bold, even uninhibited. But that doesn't mean that you have to show the most primitive side of human nature nakedly. On the contrary, good design should be like Chanel, with a reserved posture and elegant approach, to remove the mystery of Rason's nude for the audience, and guide them to peek at the fleeting beauty. This unconscious suggestive beauty is what really charms.
New ideas, new challenges
Fashion should not be superficial, just as fashion designers in an era of irrationality also need to endorse their ideas. Because the beauty you are pursuing not only needs to be artistic, but also should find practical meaning.
This goes back to the origins of fashion: to allow people to better keep warm and cover their bodies. Today, fashion is a well-known reason to express one's personality and one's identity. But if one calls into question its most basic practicality, it is like an edifice without a foundation, glamorous but inherently empty.
Therefore, if a design is too "trendy" for people to imagine how it can be used in real life, then it lacks foundation and cannot be called a real fashion force. From the fluttering beauty of the scented veil to the lightweight and waterproof Gore-Tex today, these designs are not only pleasing to the eye, but also have practical value.
Looking back at the history of fashion, we will find that the truly classic pieces have achieved a perfect balance between artistry and practicality. For example, the aforementioned Chanel outfit, although it looks fluttery, is actually based on men's trousers, and the designer has incorporated elements of freedom and comfort into women's clothing.
Looking at the popular sports and leisure style, not only the style instantly captures the current young people's yearning for quality of life, but even the wear-resistant fabrics and foams make people feel comfortable after wearing. This is the greatest contributor to the high fit with the lifestyle and the popularity of a style.
Get out of the prison of art
In the final analysis, any attempt to break through the aesthetic confines and make bold innovations is commendable, but this kind of innovation should never deviate from the premise of practicality, let alone dazzle for the sake of freshness and dazzle. A true fashion masterpiece not only needs to have an avant-garde concept, but also should be rooted in public life and become a new fashion authority that people yearn for and pursue.
Perhaps in the future, the fashion design industry will face more aesthetic challenges, but I believe that as long as designers maintain an open mind and a humble learning attitude, they will be able to cross the cultural gap, absorb nutrients under the premise of tolerance and respect, and make their works continue to sublimate. At that time, everyone will be able to enjoy more pieces that can be called true fashion classics.