Film And it's Influence on Fashion
- Darren De Hahn
- Apr 22, 2019
- 3 min read
Updated: Nov 27, 2019
It goes without saying that film plays a major role in our society. From two ghostly little girls walking side by side down the runway, to grabbing those platform shoes you found yourself obsessing over after watching your favourite 70's film about six times. Cinema has crept into our daily lives and formed a very, very comfortable home for itself.
Perhaps too comfortable?
Film tends to be more complex and impactful than most people care to give credit. We spend far too much time, and in some cases the majority of our days, consuming this particular kind of media to expect its content to leave anything short of a lasting impression.
Spring/Summer saw Undercover send old school horror film looks down the runway reminiscent of those movies which probably gave your parents nightmares.
Let me set the scene for you. Long hallways with the unknown lurking around every corner. A catastrophe of floral prints. Velvet furniture with dark wood finishes. Deep red hues that will have you crawling out of your skin.
Disgusting. Unsettling. Beautiful.
Sure some would say that's an oxymoron, but is it really when you consider that the concept of beauty itself is completely personal?
Horror films have long been an influence to artists alike due to their unmistakable aesthetics and undeniable ability to grip an audience. We fall deep into the story line and the engulfing nature of the surroundings is just an added bonus. It's no surprise we carry a bit of this magic with us every day.
Not all horror film to fashion runway spectacles made their adaptations quite so direct of course.
Alexander McQueen took inspiration from Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds" and turned a film about ravaging feathered creatures into something hauntingly beautiful.
Winged headpieces, layers of ruffles and skin tight fabrics adorned with tremendous detail transports you right into McQueen's interpretation of the world Hitchcock had created for us some 40 years prior.
Film has proven to provide us with a lot of dream like inspiration.
Horror turned into beautiful creation.
What if I told you that underneath lay something a little more deviant?
Once in a while a film comes along which tends to break boundaries. These boundary breakers take a leap over the fine line holding society together and gives the box in which we hold our normalities a bit of a shake.
They are widely recognised and gain almost cult like followings due to their somewhat extremist (relatively speaking) approach to media during the period of their release.
A Clockwork Orange releasing in 1971 to notorious acclaim documents a group of young men wreaking havoc around what was set out to be a future England. The costume designer drew inspiration from the streets and other parts of London when conceptualizing what would soon become the uniform for many of the recognised gangs at the time.
The film caused so much controversy that it was withdrawn from circulation in the UK in 1974 but that did not hinder its influence on youth culture.
Artists including David Bowie adopted this monochrome punk-like aesthetic for much of the 70's and bands such as The Ramones and Led Zeppelin referenced the film in their music.
It has been credited with being one of the major influencers of the punk movement.
The style has been adapted time and time again. Take it less at face value and think more about the mood these looks display.
It is an exploration of rebellion, perversion and sexuality.
These films force us to come face to face with that which would otherwise make us uncomfortable. In most cases they could be considered revolutionary.
Now that we've talked about how the past has influenced the present, lets take a look at how the future influences the present.
Figuratively speaking of course. Raf Simons adopts Ridley Scott's imagination of a seemingly dystopian future back-lit with neon colours, obscurity and a weak haze.
Oversized garments, waterproof materials, technical fabrics and structuring with great attention to detail assists in realising this futuristic aesthetic.
Raf is no stranger to this method of interpretation and is well acquainted with the use of media as a source of inspiration for his clothing.
He is a self confessed lover of the arts with collections referencing Twin Peaks and Christiane, F. along with a combination of classic horrors.
If you've ever gone to your closet and reached out for that pair of chunky black boots, check print blazer or oversized sweater there is a strong likelihood you have one of the aforementioned films to thank.
Few directors and behind the scenes film creators go above and beyond to imagine a world fantastical enough to cement itself in the books for a significant period.
The next time you're settling down for the night with a bowl of popcorn and remote in hand consider bringing a notepad and pen along as well.
You may just find yourself ahead of next season's trend.
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