Future Fashion
The ‘future’ is such a broad term, with an infinite amount of interpretation, imagination, and possibilities, that as a designer, it is near impossible to have complete foresight as to what kind of world this might be. Some may interpret the future as a scene straight out of 2001: A Space Odyssey, others may see it barren and obsolete. There is little evidence that points one way or another, making the concept of the future, and the power to define it, making it one of the most important and fascinating conversations today. Pierre Cardin’s vision of the future, though it did encompass a variety sci-fi motifs, transcended visuals alone. Through fashion, Cardin sought reference from the past to inform the kind of garment we may wear in the future. Pictured above are two gowns that speak to one of the oldest traditions of man: marriage. The garments themselves already break tradition, as their shape and form jut out into space more exaggeratedly than a traditional wedding gown would, using ruffles and rings of fabric to sensually emphasize the womanly shape while also chastely maintaining the bride’s distance from others in a sort of physical personal space bubble cocooning her in. The next tradition which Cardin breaks is color. Historically, in Western societies, wedding dresses have been white as a symbol of purity. Even slight deviation from this intensely ingrained convention is seen as shocking by most, however Cardin challenges this tradition by crossing cultures and making this wedding dress red, the traditional color of wedding dresses in China and India. Cardin’s design decision breaks prevalent Western hegemony and puts into perspective what tradition and culture could really look like should the two become more all-encompassing. Thus, with these gowns, the notion of what a wedding is, and its context within a global framework, is questioned. Must traditions always be upheld? When is it appropriate to break tradition? How does the tradition tied to a bride’s wedding dress reflect a cultural view on marriage? Such questions and more are loaded within Cardin’s work, asking a widespread audience to reflect internally on the past so that they may make an informed decision for the future. Thus, a wedding dress is no longer just a wedding dress. It is self reflective, traditionally rooted object for the future so that one in junction with another may shape their own life and legacy, altering the course of the future. The definition of the future does not only have to speak to technology advancements and artificial intelligence, but it can be redefining hegemony so that a dress is not characterized completely by tradition, but by the individual.
Bibliography
Kaiser, Susan B. Fashion and Cultural Studies. London: Bloomsbury Visual Arts, 2018.
