Minimalism in Fashion

Hello Everyone!
Sorry for the belated post! Uni work seems to be so engrossing that I just kept on prelonging bloging! How sad!
So here is an exert from one of my essays which I have just been fanatically obsessed about! I'm Loving the realisation of Prada's link towards Minimalism and especially the 1960 designer Paco Rabanne!
Check It Ouuut!!



Prada

Paco Rabanne

Paco Rabanne

The similarities between the Minimalist concepts towards the unit can be seen when analysing the Prada 1998 Spring Summer collection. Prada’s Post-Modern reference to Paco Rabanne; through a focus on his controversial and revolutionary use of materials, is also highly evident. While not physically utilising the technique of linkage that Rabanne did, Muccia Prada implies it. Through the application of plastic panels embedded into the top, and appliquéd onto the skirt (Nie 2002), this illustrates a similar appearance to that of the white Rhodoïd rectangles linked together for a swimsuit by Rabanne. To analyze Prada’s reference to Rabanne further, it seems important to note the reference in cut, silhouette and colour, to that of Rabanne’s disposable paper dress of 1967. Both pieces follow an A-line silhouette, with and overall stark white coloring, and utilize the construction of pleating and reference to vertical lines.


Paco Rabanne

Prada

It is interesting to consider the 1980s and 1990s the height of the Post-Modern pastiche as references to multiple artistic styles was common. Prada’s connection with the movement of Minimalism and potentially, more importantly, Paco Rabanne; it is not surprising that her 1990s collections reference these artistic drives. What is interesting is, that Minimalism and Rabanne still do. Through her reference towards unconventional materials, Miuccia Prada created Chandelier dresses and skirts for the Ready-to-Wear Spring 2010 collection. This utilisation of the elements of the chandelier appears to be an appropriated technique similar to Rabanne’s chainmail like linkage, yet completely synonymous with Prada’s aesthetic and conceptual direction that collection.


Prada

Paco Rabanne

Paco Rabanne

While the Fall 2009 collection displayed an experimental application of leather, beading and also fur, all of which seem to, almost, pay homage to the technical developments of Rabanne’s works. The use of cut leather strips combined with plastic beading links dramatically to Rabanne’s uses leather strips in his 1966 Rodéo dresses. But also to the heavy, chunky beading which he had begun to embellish his works with during 1968. Prada seems to have merged these two textural concepts together and manifested them into her own collection, making them more relevant for our future for 2010. "

LOVEhelen
(this is my own link, and words and thus it would be appreciated not to be coppied! Thank-you dears!)
Images sourced from: Style.com
Kamitsis, L 1999, Paco Rabanne, First Edition, Thames and Hudson, London.