The Art of Fashion

Long has the topic been debated: is fashion a form of art? We can leave that to the curators and historians to ponder, but for the layperson, there’s a nice compromise: fusing art together with fashion. Whether you want to get creative with pieces you can hang in your closet instead of a gallery wall, or signal to prospective dates you have a master’s in art history, here are some sartorial signatures that scream you “Van Gogh” Girl!

For the more Baroque ’n;’ Roll among you, Alexander McQueen has a treasure this season: Hieronymus Bosch’s “Garden of Earthly Delights” cut, sewn, and stoned over key pieces. The rich jewel tones of sapphire, ruby, and emerald juxtapose the asymmetric slashes and demonic creatures cascading over everything. From elegant and over-the-top with a gown to die for, or an elevated bodysuit, this decadent painting comes to life in a decadent wardrobe.

Balmain does a good job this season creating a movement between high and low, applying more traditional (and religious) paintings to street-style silhouettes, mainly sweatshirts and sneakers with Renaissance angels and abstract works.

Vivienne Westwood practically put paintings on the map—and torsos—with her infamous “Boucher” corset from her 1993 Portrait collection. You may recognize the shepherd and shepherdess when the corset blew up as the vintage item to snag a few years ago. The designer took note and swiftly copied Westwood’s penchant for Rococo fluff and fuzz to grace the likes of corsets, jeans, and sneakers alike.

Of course, the luxe logo leader in the art-cum-fashion wing is Louis Vuitton, who regularly collaborates with artists and their foundations. Historically we’ve seen Jeff Koons, Takashi Murakami, Stephen Sprouse, and more brush off a little onto the Italian brand’s bags. This year, they’ve rounded out their roster with Yayoi Kusama, whose dots adorn traditional “LV” bags, adding a playful charm only art can evoke.