A Critical Look: The Rise Of Fashion As Art

In 1965, famed fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent debuted his Mondrian collection, which paid homage to the art of Piet Mondrian. The blocky cocktail dresses were physical manifestations of Piet Mondrian’s signature art technique: primary colors and white composed and divided by thick black grid lines. The dresses were a smashing success and became a catchall for the style that would define the 1960s. Original versions of these dresses can be found on display in the variety of museums including but not limited to the Metropolitan Museum in New York.

Consider a simple clay pot: The first pot made of clay could be collected for its innovation, but any clay pots created thereafter are unique by name, but are simply clay pots, modeled upon the practicality or manufacturing technique of the first. But the value of any given clay pot lies in its historic relevancy. Without a museum having a clay pot in its archives, we may never know what clay pots looked like from a particular period. It appears this sentiment applies to fashion as well. From garments of the first century to garments of the 1940s, they are all preserved to explore what people were wearing at any given time.

Consider a historically accurate painting of a cityscape. The work gives insight to the past, how the world worked, how a city looked. There’s a practicality in having it for reference and it’s a respect for the past. Critically, a painting of a city can provide the essence of life in a particular time. It appears this sentiment applies to fashion as well. From garments of the first century to garments of the 1940s, they are all preserved to explore what people were wearing at any given time.

Back to YSL: those Mondrian dresses were kept for their historical value, they conveniently captured the essence of what people wore and were less about YSL’s talent as a designer since the idea wasn’t particularly innovative: designers had done the Piet dress prior to YSL’s attempt. But that is just it: the dresses were being replicated. They were what people wanted to wear. They were trendy. (Read full article in-app)