The avant-garde fashion style describes fashion that is classed as bold, experimental and unconventional while still keeping its stylish design and aesthetic. It has seen a lot of evolution, as it is constantly pushing the boundaries of the fashion industry by embracing more new styles every year. The art movement of the same name is characterized by its rejection of traditional artistic conventions and that is identical to avant-garde fashion with it being a form of self-expression.
Runways and high-end fashion magazines have heavily embraced the avant-garde style and made it the focal point of their promotions, as they attempt to break free of norms and become more edgy within the scene. With that being said, it’s not just the runway where we see avant-garde take centre stage as we also see it in everyday streetwear, especially in major cities like Paris. The avant-garde fashion scene in Paris has exploded in popularity in the modern era with more people welcoming the style into their lives.
This guide will explore the rise of Paris’s avant-garde fashion scene and give insight into how it has transcended the runway industry and become an everyday aesthetic for residents of the French capital. Continue reading to find out more.
The Meaning of Avant-Garde in Today’s Fashion Industry
Creativity, artistry and rebellion against convention is what makes avant-garde fashion so groundbreaking, as its purpose is to make a statement. When people embrace the avant-garde style, they’re willing to experiment with their wardrobe and make it more self-expressive with their interests as they redefine fashion boundaries.
This movement comes from the French word “avant-garde,” which means “advance guard” and its goal is to capture boldness at the forefront of innovation as people guard themselves from traditional style to embrace something more unique. It acts as a reminder that fashion may be a wearable art form that subverts social, cultural and aesthetic conventions.
Defining the Avant-Garde Fashion Movement
The avant-garde fashion movement was pioneered by the likes of Elsa Schiaperelli, a designer who uses surrealism to create clothing that blurred the lines between reality and fantasy. The Italian fashion designer completed collaborations with Salvador Dali to create iconic pieces that have become iconic in the fashion world, such as the lobster dress. Schiaperelli has created some of the most influential fashion trends that we have seen, as she was one of the first to use zippers as a decorative accent rather than just a functional piece.
Since Schiaparelli, the movement has evolved massively with many new designers entering the scene and redefined what we thought we already knew about avant-garde fashion. Some of the newer advancements in avant-garde Paris fashion includes challenging tailoring and fabric usage by taking inspiration from new technologies.
Being considered timeless is one of the main perks of avant-garde fashion, as it’s not restricted by trends or seasons due it being boundary breaking. As residents of Paris have heavily embraced avant-garde fashion, we have seen more dialogue regarding the scene and it has inspired more creativity among everyday streetwear across other major cities around the world.
How the Avant-Garde Style Has Evolved Over Time
Since its early 20th century beginnings, the avant-garde style continues to go against the status quo of fashion and push design boundaries. It has now taken a more direct approach of creating apparel that is both visually beautiful and conceptually stimulating, as it remains a talking point within the industry. It has influenced many modern day designers, which has led to it becoming more socially accepted in Paris and similar cities as we see it worn more on the streets.
With the rise of technology and digital tools, it has allowed avant-garde designers to explore more themes than ever before as they can integrate this technology into their fashion creations. For example, Adobe has recently revealed their digital dress that can constantly change patterns while being worn and this can be worn to both parties and events. This avant-garde style dress is the first of its kind and shows the evolution over time.
There have also been other themes recently explored in avant-garde fashion, such as sustainability, politics and body modification which has come in the form of some women and men’s streetwear. Designers have also been able to utilise 3D printing and other innovative techniques to create visually striking pieces.
Examples of Avant-Garde Fashion
Bumster Pants by Alexander McQueen
The most iconic bottom-focused design in fashion history is the bumster pants by Alexander McQueen. When it was first introduced, the extremely low-cut waistline was controversial as it showed the upper part of the buttocks. This went against the norms of covering these more hidden areas and challenged traditional notions of modesty and exposed a part of the body rarely seen in mainstream fashion. These pants went beyond the runway and have become worn on the streets of Paris by those who embrace the style.
Lumps and Bumps Collection by Comme des Garçons
The “Lumps and Bumps” collection, also known as “Body Meets Dress, Dress Meets Body,” from Comme des Garçons’ Spring/Summer 1997 collection, is a landmark moment in fashion history. It’s a very polarizing fashion piece, as it’s something that we rarely see within the industry. Rei Kawakubo aimed to disrupt traditional notions of feminine beauty and body image with this design with the inclusion of distorted lumps and bumps.
Skeleton Dress by Elsa Schiaparelli
Elsa Schiaparelli’s “Skeleton Dress” from her 1938 “Circus” collection is a striking example of her surrealist approach to fashion. The dress features padded representations of human bones, including the rib cage, spine and leg bones. While it might not sound appealing, the design is genuinely stunning and can be worn for a variety of occasions by women in Paris. It combines the unconventional avant-garde still and pure elegance.
Conclusion
Avant-garde’s enduring appeal lies in its ability to inspire creativity, spark dialogue and redefine the very notion of what fashion can be. As Paris continues to champion this bold and experimental approach, it solidifies its position as a global epicenter for avant-garde style, demonstrating that fashion remains a powerful form of artistic expression.
Image Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-resting-her-arms-on-railing-1259234/
