In Search of Fashion Inspiration? Skip the Trends and Surround Yourself with Art

Jul 11

Discover how to find timeless fashion inspiration by surrounding yourself with art, bypassing fleeting trends for enduring style cues.

In Search of Fashion Inspiration? Skip the Trends and Surround Yourself with Art

There might come a time in your life as a fashion enthusiast when inspiration doesn’t kick in as it once did. You’re tired of new trends that you find rather lackluster and bored of the clothes hanging in your closet (or dressing room, if you’re lucky enough to have one). Store windows don’t make your heart skip a beat anymore, and not even the latest creations from your favorite designers can get you out of your creative numbness. The sun doesn’t shine as bright, and the birds don’t chirp as loud. You get the idea.

And the worst part about it is nothing seems to help. No amount of fashion consumption can bring back that zest and creativity. If that sounds oddly familiar to you, we might have an effective cure that can bring some fashion inspiration into your life and refresh your style.

You don’t need to buy every fashion magazine under the sun or trot across the globe, going from New York City to London, Milan, and Paris to sit in the front row at top annual fashion events. You just need to embrace your artistic side!

For as long as one can remember, fashion designers have been drawing their inspiration from both fine and decorative arts to craft their collections, so why wouldn’t you take a page from their book and dive into the art world to revive your wardrobe? When everything feels bland and boring, and styling inspiration seems to elude you, art can turn the creative switch back on. So, feel free to skip fashion fads this year and go from trend follower to trendsetter by tapping into the fascinating art realm.

The art of art immersion

So, how does this art immersion method work, anyway? Do you just stare at random paintings until you feel the artistic spirit descend upon you? Well, no, not quite. You need to take a deep dive into the art world to find your muse and make the magic happen. So, here’s what you can do.

Discover great art

Inspiring artworks from talented artists are already out there, ready to be discovered, so you just have to find the time and willingness to go and find them. You can do that by visiting museums, galleries, and exhibitions, or going to art fairs whenever you have the chance.

In today’s day and age, when information is readily available, it’s easier than ever to stay current with what’s happening in the art world and keep up to date with upcoming art events in your area, so you can use every opportunity you have to get up close and personal with art. Who knows, maybe one of the art pieces you come across might speak to you and spark your creativity.

Explore the intersection of art and fashion

Throughout history, there have been many fashion designers who were influenced by or gained inspiration from the work of famous artists. Studying these examples can help you gain a better understanding of how art can seamlessly transition into fashion, blurring the line between the two spheres, and use these insights to fuel your own art and fashion fusion.

For example, back in the ‘60s, French designer and major art aficionado Yves Saint Laurent brought a tribute to Piet Mondrian by incorporating the geometric figures and straight lines that the artist was known for into his AW Haute Couture collection that revolutionized the fashion world at the time. More than a decade later, the geometrical motifs from Pablo Picasso’s paintings would find their way into YSL’s AW collection from 1979. Alexander McQueen used Gustav Klimt’s famous golden paintings as a starting point for several of his collections, and the examples could continue.

Bring art into your home

Visiting museums and examining the art-inspired fashion collections from prominent designers can open you up to new concepts and ideas, however, the best way to surround yourself with art is to bring it into your own home.

Although you’ll find plenty of advice on how to choose the best pieces for your home and how you can integrate artwork into your interior design, you don’t have to follow any specific rules in this respect. Just go with your intuition and pick pieces that you find interesting and resonate with you. You can look for fine art prints for sale online or visit art galleries in person, and find art that will not only enhance the look and feel of your home but also encourage your creative spirit.

Incorporating art-inspired elements into your style

Art immersion is only the first part of the process. The second part implies figuring out how to translate the inspiration you get from art into your wardrobe. For this, you need to focus on certain elements that can be easily integrated into your outfits.

For starters, you should identify the dominant color palette in the art pieces that catch your attention. Most works of art use different combinations of colors to evoke certain emotions and feature a chromatic harmony that you can replicate in your attires.

Prints and patterns abound in the art world and can serve as great elements to add depth and interest to an outfit. Don’t be afraid to experiment with bold motifs and designs, as McQueen did when he used Klimt’s paintings as inspiration.

Talented artists are also known for their clever use of materials and textures to create different effects. You can do the same by using a variety of materials to add dimension to your outfits, enhance certain features, or combine textures to create eye-catching contrasts.

Accessories can be the icing on the cake for your art-inspired attires. Jewelry reminiscent of the shapes and silhouettes of different art elements, or bags and scarves that can serve as a canvas for beautiful designs are bound to make your outfits stand out.

In the end, art provides endless opportunities to express feelings and ideas, and so does fashion. So, it all comes down to using one creative medium to fuel another.