Its fashion, it doesn’t need a purpose.. (or does it?)

(picture on left of Gigi Hadid in Moschino SS18 is from Brit + Co )

Have you even looked at a design from one of New York Fashion week’s shows and wondered, what the hell do i even wear this to? Ladies and Gentle men, welcome to the artistic designers of high end fashion. Fashion week was designed to show case some of the most talented designers work, that showcases the most abstract and unique pieces.

In my layout & design class we had to discuss whether form follows function and whether we agree or disagree on it. knowing myself i chose to look at it in a fashion sense.

Unlike architecture fashion is based on more of a form of an inspiration. Most designers come up with designs over an influence, for example Gucci’s Ready-to-wear looks for their spring/summer 2018 campaign was based on Elton John’s iconic stage looks. (some Gucci here )

Ellery fashion from vogue.com

With every inspired look that seems to have more of a form, rather then an actual use or function inspires main steam retailers to take the form of one of these designers works of art and create an item that can be used in someones daily life.

A great example of this theory is looking at a couture look and seeing an item from a retailer that has been inspired by that look.

so this look is from Kim Ellery’s fall 2017 show she wanted to take that checkered print and create something that showed power in women (hence the broad shoulder and big collar).

her look was based on a form in her mind that became a piece of art on the runway.

screen shot from H&M.com

H&M uses inspiration from Ellery’s designs to create a made to wear style that gives her look a more functional style that people can wear.  Just one of the many styles H&M sells thats been inspired by high end fashion.

In fashion, i do agree that form does follow function when it comes to inspiration followed by function. Some cases of fashion function does come first to fit the needs of others. Burberry’s iconic trench coat was first made to keep troops warm and dry in battle, and later is considered a staple and timeless pieces in people’s wardrobes.

If you want to keep this debate going with form follows function i dare you to follow this link, an editorial by The Style Sight. the editorial talks further into how they think form follows function. The Style Sight goods

Let me know your thoughts do you think form follows function?

-Marki xx