When I started this project I had no idea what I was going to do. I suddenly remembered that I had an Alexander McQueen book of his designs that I got when I was 11 when I went to the Savage Beauty exhibit at the Met. I was flipping through remembered the energy and power of the exhibit, and how much his designs and work made me feel. I picked Klimt not only because of my love for his patterns but because of how passion and love are found in each of his paintings through contrapasso or a simple embrace. I wanted to contrast the harsh vulnerability of McQueen’s Designs and contrast them with the intimate emotions of Klimt’s paintings.
I designed a dress inspired by Gustav Klimt and designed in the style of Alexander McQueen; both artist and designer valued the empowerment and sensuality of the female form and created whimsical ethereal pieces of work. When researching I found it amazing how similar the styles the aesthetic. For example that they both use flowers in their work, as well as rich jewel tones that enhance the form. When designing this dress I wanted to create a dress that enhances and gently drapes on the body. I wanted the dress to be dynamic yet soft so it would be made out of a sheer fabric. The poppies on the dress were inspired by the flowers and patterns incorporated in Klimt’s paintings. The use of the color red represents power and passion illustrating the female form as a force of nature.
