To begin, let’s look at the definition of each word separately. The new American Webster Dictionary defines the word art as follows,
ART: (n) 1. any system of rules and traditional methods for the practice of craft, trade or profession; the application of knowledge and skill. 2. works designed to give intellectual pleasure, as music, sculpture, and esp. pictorial representation. 3. skillful workmanship. 4. cunning; guile.
In turn it also defines fashion as follows,
FASHION: (n) 1. prevailing mode, esp. of dress, present custom. 2. people of polite society collectively. 3. external shape; form. 4. manner or way (of doing something). (vt) make; fabricate; give a particular shape or form to.
The worlds of art and fashion have always shared a common bond, an almost symbiotic relationship. This connection between art and fashion has existed since before recorded history and continues to grow, adapt and reflect the trends through our present day. Over the years artists of all types have been approached by all of the top designers to lend their creativity and style to the new season’s collections, thereby extrapolating their artistic abilities and introducing new trends and elements onto an unsuspecting fashion world from the glitzy fashion show catwalks to the specialty boutiques and beyond.
As you can no doubt see from the definitions, there are some overlapping similarities between the art world and the fashion one. The melding of art and fashion is demonstrated in a number of different ways. Fashion designers use their skills and abilities to create intricate, beautiful and interesting pieces of clothing, bags and shoes. They also have expanded their reach from the catwalks into the home with top designers releasing designer sheets and home accessories. By doing so these pieces of clothing, designer sheets and home decor that have been designed exhibit the same things you see when you view a piece of fine artwork in a gallery or museum.
People are drawn for whatever reason to a certain piece of art work, much as they are drawn to a certain fashion designer or article of clothing. Art and fashion both communicate a non-verbal message to those around us. When you look at a piece of artwork or a famous painting you see the outward appearance of it but there also remains a deeper hidden message that needs to be explored further. This thought can be extrapolated to cover the world of fashion. As you clothe yourself you are basically piecing together a work of art through your outfit. Clothing ourselves has always been a way to create something truly individual and separate us from others in our society and culture. Art and fashion both represents a form of symbolism. However in art each visual symbol carries an even deeper meaning that cannot be understood by simply looking at it at face value. By melding the two disciplines, fashion is also beginning to take on these same characteristics as well.
The connection between art and fashion is stronger than ever and it is becoming more widespread. We are experiencing a revolution and a fusion of the two entities as the lines between them are becoming even more blurred. As this fusion continues to evolve and change, the fashion industry leaders will undoubtedly reach out to their artistic brethren even more with the olive branch, in hopes of creating new forms of expressing oneself through their clothing with the intention of further establishing themselves and their names. It is not about people serving art and fashion, but rather about art and fashion being a slave of the people.
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