Everything Old Is New Again

The fashion of the 18th century is the focus of a new Parisian exhibit that opened during Parisian Fashion Week to pay tribute to some of the more well-known designers of today who have taken inspiration from the 18th century fashion of those like Marie Antoinette and others throughout history and made a contemporary garment. The exhibit contained a number of high-profile designers and it’s focus was on haute couture through the ages.

The exhibit contained dozens of ornately adorned designs from well-know designers through the ages including Christian LaCroix, Thierry Mugler, and Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel. These designers are known for their over the top designs and always have beautiful, ornate collections so choosing one for the exhibit must have been an exhausting process.

One of the modern designs that stood out was a dress from the 1999-2000 Givenchy collection designed by Alexander McQueen. After his death in early 2010, the choice of his gown was particularly poignant as everyone would have their eyes on the exhibit if only to see which Alexander McQueen ensemble was chosen. He was known as a highly avante-garde designer and frequently had flamboyant styles that made the news for more than just their style. He often chose to use his desgins as a billboard for his political and socal opinion. They never failed to get the media attention he wanted and deserved.

Finding inspiration from fashion through the ages, and specifically from the royalty of the 18th century and making changes so that the garment looks current in today’s fashion world takes an incredible amount of skill and fashion inspiration. The Parisian exhibit was a great addition to Fashion Week and gave the attendees something to think about as they watched current fashion shows as well.