If you are not subscribed to @ChristopherKane, get out your Instagram and do so immediately. The designer’s feed is trickling slow-motion delights from this years’ Autumn Winter Collection and the whole thing has me very excited about fashion’s current direction. The incorporation of the still and moving image creates points in my social feed that equate to live moments on a runway. It’s more engaging, more real and yes let’s not forget – more stylised. This loose realism has me thinking about how the pieces would translate in the real world, or at least what celebrity would wear them…
Whilst editorial is transportative in its own way, the beauty of film lies in its ability to evoke an emotional response, bringing life to otherwise still images. Fashion being an applied art lends itself more to film than photography, since design is only realised when in utility i.e. when moving on the body. Now more than ever, designers are empowered with the technology to direct their own mini-films and curate a virtual gallery via social media to create a mood for their brand. We are able to see and hear fabric in motion, embracing all our senses to interpret the light and shadow of its surface, even the cut and fall of the silhouette, in the way the designer wants us to see it. The nature of film (at least a good film) is to deliver action that sparks a thought or a feeling in the viewer and allows them to interpret the information in their own mind.
Much like art installations and silent film, the results of fashion-inspired film are varied. From a commercial perspective, one would hope that it generates desire leading to a purchase of sale. For me – from a designer’s perspective – it brings inspiration which impacts on my own creative productivity. Herein lies my agenda, I could talk for hours about what I see as Kane’s pinnacle collection; its generous use of light-reflecting materials that cling to the body, the soft floral settee-like fabric in striking contrast to its sharp origami-esque folds… or hey, I could just show you! Based on my observations from popular culture (and watching one too many episodes of the Kardashians!) here’s my fantasy playlist that matches up a celebrity style with one of Kane’s AW17 collections. Tell me if you think I got it right!
Christopher Kane X Actress Tilda Swinton
Christopher Kane X Actress Cate Blanchett
Christopher Kane X Actress Alicia Vikander
Christopher Kane X Pop Model Kendall Jenner
Christopher Kane X Musician Gwen Stefani
