fashion
ˈfaʃ(ə)n/
noun
1. a popular or the latest style of clothing, hair, decoration, or behaviour.
"the latest parisian fashions"
synonyms: vogue, trend, craze, rage, mania, mode, fad, fancy, passing
2. a manner of doing something.
"the work is done in a rather casual fashion"
synonyms: maner, way style, method, mode
3.make into a particular form.
"the bottles were fashioned from green glass"
synonyms: construct, build manufacture, make, create, fabricate, contrive
Fashion is subjective. It is something which is to be explored by an individual. For centuries it has been used as a way of non verbal communication. Whether you want to convey your personality, occupation, class, gender, culture or religion, it is something which is different for everybody. As soon as you say the word fashion, people automatically think of clothes, but fashion really encompasses a larger spectrum, from accessories, jewellery and footwear to hairstyles, beauty and tattoos.
The idea of fashion really began with royalty and the upper class. From the 18th century, fashion was a symbol of social status. Sumptuary laws were put into place which restricted people on what they could wear, right down to colour and material.
Paris was where the ever-changing fashion that we know rose to predominance, more specifically Versailles, and it was Louis XIV who played a big part in making this happen. He was a King that was determined to establish Paris as the capital of sophistication and elegance and also prompted the birth of the Baroque period. He was the one who brought us the palace of Versailles which was made to be the centre of his fashion experiment. Court dress was the initial introduction to fashion, and Louis XIV would send out little dolls dressed in french court fashion to show everyone what the latest
looks of the time were.
King Louis XIV
looks of the time were.
court dress 1775-1780, silk and linen, hand woven and hand sewn
The Palace of Versailles- Hall of mirrors
Charles Frederick Worth, who is also known as the "father of Haute Couture", was the first fashion designer. He was a Brit who dominated Parisian fashion in the 19th century. His designs were known for his lavish use of fabrics and he references elements of historic dress. Worth's success as a designer was around the same time of the establishment of the second empire in France. 1852 was the restoration of the royal house and the new emperor was Napoleon III who had plans to regenerate and revitalise the French economy. From this, there was a demand in luxury goods, this included fashionable dress and textiles, which worked in favour of Charles Frederick Worth. The demand reached levels which had not been seen since before the French revolution. For his most special clients he would create one of a kind pieces and he would prepare a range of designs which would be shown on live models at the house of Worth. He knew how to organise his business well and his self promotion lead to titles such as "the first couturier" and appeared frequently in magazines.
Printed silk moire, silk faille, lace
Worth continues to inspired designers of today for example Valentinos spring couture 2013 collection.
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