How Inspiration from Fall 2020 Ready-to-Wear Collections Revealed Today’s Society
Fashion is a powerful tool, especially when it comes to predicting the outcome of society.
Collections during fashion week have always been known for setting the trends for the upcoming seasons. They defined the landscape of style for years and have turned out some of the most iconic fashion statements of all time. However, with what we are experiencing now it has become a time in which designers are forced to become more conscious about their work, both politically and sustainably. Around late January to early March, shows were held for the Fall 2020 ready-to-wear collections. The themes, however, displayed a more serious and darker tone, ranging from saving our planet, to feminism and the switch between predator and prey, coincidentally resembling the current time we are experiencing.
Marine Serre’s Fall 2020 collection perfectly captured the essence of a world going into flames, but still revealed the hope she had in society into turning the tables to save society before the brink of destruction. She especially emphasizes the calm she tries to upkeep while the world is going crazy and trying to distract her from being creative. Serre’s focus for this collection was on the planet burning, both in the aspect concerning sustainability and the current chaos. The moon logo that defines her brand has been altered for this collection, as if it was affected by heat. The looks continued to personify a world burning with the use of sandy denim for even more of a burnt effect. Although Marine Serre’s collection was meant to personify how the world is currently bubbling, it is meant to be a transformation into a new community from this destroyed world. Similar to how society is right now, Coronavirus has made a huge impact on the world and now we live in a time where health and safety are the priority in order to reduce those infected and even killed.
Another Fall 2020 collection that resembled a more darker, serious tone was Rodarte, helmed by Laura and Kate Mulleavy. Drawing inspiration from Francis Ford Coppola’s Dracula, they put the emphasis on the prey instead. The show originally did not appear dark, invoking dainty polka-dot day dresses and pouf sleeves. As the show went on, however, the dainty quality turned up a notch and even turned a bit uncomfortable with the designs being bolder in their feminine and pastel colors. All of a sudden, the tone was changed and out came the dark, goth vibe consisting of capes, fringe, and blood red. This symbolized the transformation of prey into predators, which can be applied to many issues going on in today’s world. This collection was meant to represent a woman becoming “furiously alive,” aware of her surroundings and taking control. Especially with what’s going on right now, women have the power to take control of their lives and decide what's best for them.
Although no one could predict how the world and society would turn out right now, it is evident that these two Fall 2020 collections coincidentally revealed the more serious, yet powerful time that we are living in today.
Photo Credit: The New York Times, Vogue.
Report: Charlene Piccio
At the rise of Covid-19 many of us first questioned the timeline of fashion week and would we see the regular calendar continue - the question weighed over many of us for months! It was refreshing to see design houses and designers across the globe take advantage of the uncertainty and plow into production mode - thus my interest in Jerri Reid New York - The Black Designer based in Brooklyn New York wow’d instagram with his latest collection paying homage to the Black Is King film which debuted earlier this year in July. I was taken aback at quick of a turn round the young designer produced and released his well crafted designs reflecting some of the films most memorable moments.