Michelle
English
Instructor:
Rosemary Tyrrell
20th
Century Designers #56527
7 November 2013
Introduction
Throughout my life I have been constantly involved in art and fashion. During my four years in high school, I took a total of twelve different art classes to further my knowledge and understanding of the basics. I've always believed that fashion isn't just a clothing item you wear, it's wearable art and is something that has been influenced by art. I've always been interested in pairing two completely opposite things together and making it look cohesive.
From a young age, my mother told me I was always very into art and fashion. I used to draw on the white walls of my house with colorful markers. Although it may have angered my mother, she told me she that it was something I would end up pursuing. She searched for the perfect fashion coloring pages for me and always let me pick out what I would be wearing to school, otherwise I would throw a fit and say it didn't look right.
Knowing the history of fashion and fashion designers relates to my future career because in order to be a merchandise buyer, I have to know the importance of what I am buying. When told a designer's name, I need to be able to instantly come up with reference images in my head or be able to know exactly what that designer's aesthetic is. That way I am able to either mimic the designer's fashion or know exactly what to look for.
I'm inspired by the textures and mixing of prints. I believe it is truly an art to be able to mesh two completely different prints and yet make it look like they should always be paired together. I'm also inspired by simply wanting to gain knowledge on designers in order to follow my dream career. In order to follow this path, I must have extensive knowledge of the designers.
For
the designer project, the five designers I chose are Catherine Malandrino,
Salvatore Ferragamo, Alexander McQueen, Marc Jacobs and Michael Kors. These
five designers are famous for the fabulous products they have produced.
Anywhere from intricately designer shoes, handbags, brightly colored clothing,
sophisticated clothing and children’s lines. These designers have made a severe
impact on the fashion world today.
The reason why I chose Catherine
Malandrino is because of her edgy rock and roll vibe to her clothing. She has
designer costume jewelry, knitwear, and silk garments. The collection that
stood out to me the most was her American Flag inspired collection. The item I
have seen the most is the silk American flag dress that has a bit of an edge to
it. I love the rocker flare that she gives to her clothing because it truly
makes her stand out more as a designer and blends with the current “hipster”
trend.
The reason why I chose Salvatore
Ferragamo is because of his impeccable, innovative shoes. He originally made
his shoes by hand, and also has produced a ready to wear line. According to
Who’s Who in Fashion the Fifth Edition, it is said that he had created the
wedge heel, platform sole, and the lucinite heel, which are all seen in today’s
fashion world. Ferragamo keeps up with the constant changes in trends with an
edge and I think that is why Ferragamo is still successful today.
The reason I chose Alexander Mcqueen is because I do not know his designs very well, but I have heard that they're extravagant and impeccably detailed. I know that many things have been inspired by him in today's fashion world. I think it would be interesting to learn more about him since he has been established as an innovative fashion icon of our time.
The reason I chose Marc Jacobs is
because of his young, playful take on fashion. He is the current creative
director for Louis Vuitton and also has his own line. Jacobs’ clothing is
sassy, sexy and edgy. He has clothing for men, women, and children, and also
accessories. Jacob’s has a lower priced line that is typically seen, called
Marc by Marc Jacobs. He works with mixing prints and different textures, which
I think is something that will always be a trend in the fashion world.
The reason I chose Michael Kors is
because he is my personal favorite designer. His collections are aimed towards
the woman who wants versatile pieces, who is sophisticated, yet also sexy. He’s
known as a sportswear designer, which I personally think is untrue due to the
sophisticated quality of his clothing. Kors works with cashmere, silk, leather
and fur. Within his line, he has handbags, men and women’s clothing, shoes,
swimwear and accessories. Each of his pieces are able to be easily mixed and
matched. Kors’ lines are not always high-priced though; he has also created a
line called Kors by Michael Kors, which tends to be more affordable.
Overall, I believe these five
designers have created fashions that will remain current for centuries. The way
that they all form their innovative lines around current trends will keep them
within the world of fashion. I’m intrigued to gain more knowledge on these five
designers to help predict what they might produce in the future. From these
designers, I will expect the unexpected.
