The Art of Good Dressing
Charles James, Red Satin Velvet Evening Gown 1955, worn and donated from Mrs. William Randolph Hearst Jr. Photo Courtesy of a photographer working for Rhode Island School of Design Museum of Art
Throughout history, fashion has always been used as a form of expression. Fashion has, and always will be, an art form that blends creativity, beauty and intention to leave both the observer and the creator forever impacted.
Famously, over time, Rolling Stone has featured breakthrough celebrities such as Prince, Michael Jackson, Madonna, David Bowie and Lady Gaga, providing a voice to the voiceless using thoughtfully curated wardrobes that send everlasting messages. Through the confidence and demeanor of empowerment, the art of choosing to wear something impactful will always remain relevant. Hand-selecting specific designers and labels to express divine messaging through their fashion will always have a significant impact on our society.
The art of good dressing doesn’t simply apply to the visual aesthetic of a garment, but also the intention with which each piece of clothing was made. Featured in these past weeks, during what The Los Angeles Times calls Bad Bunny’s “historic” SuperBowl halftime show, Lady Gaga appeared on stage alongside Bad Bunny and his hundreds of dancers. During his performance, many can agree that aesthetically, both the star and his dancers cohesively told a story through a wardrobe that would never be forgotten.
The styling team has been applauded for their visually appealing blend of cohesive tones and thoughtful tailoring. Although everything about the performance was visually appealing and very beautiful to the naked eye, the standout intention that the styling team utilized for a unified performance will be the most memorable detail that will forever mark the fashion industry.
CBS News reported that Gaga was wearing an effortlessly gorgeous blue salsa dress by designer Raul López, of LUAR. López is a Dominican designer from Brooklyn, NY, who worked alongside a team of creatives, including Chilean designer Diego Cajas Parra, at LUAR. López and his team shocked the Super Bowl performance with Gaga’s sensational dress that was simply made for movement.
The dress itself is a salsa-inspired dress from historic Latin American and Caribbean influence. Its ability to drape and move rhythmically allowed for the couture piece to blend high fashion with Latin heritage. During times like this, not only was the impact of seeing Gaga wearing a custom dress from a Hispanic designer on one of the most nationally seen stages in America a huge step of pure resilience from the Hispanic community, but it also left a truly touching effect on every viewer.
To add even more profound symbolism, featured on Gaga’s left shoulder was Puerto Rico’s official flower, the “Flor de Maga,” which Harper’s Bazaar reported was also another symbol of resilience and cultural identity. Although Gaga’s look in and of itself was absolutely breathtaking, the true impact of Gaga’s dressing is the Latin representation and symbolism that will be remembered forever.
Following Gaga in just the weekend after the Super Bowl, Spectrum News reported that Emerald Fennel’s “Wuthering Heights” appeared in theaters with limitless amounts of impactful dressings that fully immersed the viewer into every detail in actress Margot Robbie’s character.
Vogue Magazine reported that over fifty different custom looks for Robbie’s character, Catherine, by head costume designer Jacqueline Durran, were each as exquisite as the last. Durran found a way to truly channel every waking thought and emotional experience of character Catherine Earnshaw with thoughtfully curated couture that will forever be recognized as incredible.
The Guardian reported that not only did Durran feature over fifty distinctive looks for Robbie’s character alone, but also took her viewers along an emotional breakthrough for garment making as she utilized careful dressing that highlights a woman’s conflicting emotions during Earnshaw’s internal divide. Durran utilized a multitude of different stylistic choices that distinctively combined the use of delicate fabrics to craft historically strong silhouettes.
With cinematic experiences that captured garments that bloomed with innocent pinks, descolated with organically natural off-whites, to being reboomed with heroically royal blood reds–Durran ensured that the cultural blend of Cathy’s fashion would be an everlasting testament of a woman’s grief.
From each onscreen movement, Durran utilized heart-rending color schemes and intentionally divine silhouettes that allowed for a beautifully thoughtful story to be told that will never be forgotten.
As the art of good dressing is a means to create, good dressing allows for a creator's inner voice to be channeled, heard and echoed from the masses as a cultural statement to resilience, whilst also providing a voice for the voiceless.
Through careful representation and thoughtfully constructed garments, creativity will not be lost, but will continue to grow and prosper, allowing for all who witness to be moved with the designer's intention.