Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Is Fashion Art?

Mary Tres is a current fashion design student at the School of Art Institute of Chicago. She can be found styling her friends and thrift shopping.  Her work is a product of visibility between the arts and the city. This blog is a collection of articles, clothing ensembles, and style spotlights in relation to the city.

I have experienced a lot of critique from family and peers on whether fashion can be considered an art, especially when compared to other art forms such as painting and sculpting, As a designer/stylist, I want my work to be shown on a runway, sold in stores, and worn by celebrities. I believe that having high goals pushes me to work harder in production. Yet, these very goals seem to be the reason why fashion is looked down upon in the art world and beyond.

During art school courses, numerous students wanted to make art for art’s sake, with no intention of commercial success.I do think that this is a beautiful reason to follow a passion and should not be discredited. However, I also think that fashion works differently. The cost of fabric and the time that goes into each garment is extraordinary. If the work isn’t sold, how can one move on to making the next garment with a zeroed-out bank account?

In terms of styling, I’ve also heard that it appears materialistic. Some claim that when compared to designing, the job isn’t as important. Yet, I strongly disagree. A dress can be amazingly constructed, however, if the person wearing it isn’t the right fit for the design or if the paired ankle boots are weighing the dress down, the construction of the design has been completely lost in the ill styling.
All in all, clothing, more so than anything, acts as the first impression of who you are. Both designers and stylists produce looks that fit various personalities and incorporate different pieces to act as a single ensemble. That in itself is an art.

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