Side-By-Side Photos Reveal How High-Fashion is Inspired by Nature

fashion inspiration

Details at Giambattista Valli Haute Couture Spring 2017 | Pastel pink Iris

Inspiration can strike at any time and from anywhere. Often, these influences don't go unnoticed; they make their presence known in even the most subtle ways. Fashion is one field where we can often see the direct connection between the clothing and its initial vision. Bianca Luini documents fashion inspiration in her aptly-titled blog Where I See Fashion (WISF). Through her keen and observant eye, she creates side-by-side comparisons of avant-garde ensembles with the sources that have undoubtedly influenced them.

Luini demonstrates that nature, art, and photography, are intimately tied to designing clothing. Sometimes, the connection is obvious. A dress from Margiela’s 2014 haute couture collection boldly references Van Gogh’s 1889 painting, Irises. Other times, however, the fashion inspiration is merely hinted at—like the styling for The White Story, photographed by Matilde Travassos. Here, the striking eye makeup captures the essence of a frozen waterfall in Aspen, Colorado. Whether the fashion designs take straightforward cues or abstractly resemble an influence, Luini’s ongoing project reminds us to keep our eyes open for these types of exciting possibilities.

Like inspiration itself, WISF was born from another project. Luini explains, “I was doing image research for a uni[versity] project, when by chance I saw two pictures near each other and I suddenly noticed they were related somehow. Since then I couldn’t stop noticing similarities in other pictures all over the Internet, so I decided to organize them by pairing them.” WISF began in 2013 and continues today, with 377 matches made.

Created in 2013, the blog Where I See Fashion shows the powerful link between the natural world and fashion inspiration.

avant garde fashion inspiration

Picture by Clive Arrowsmith, 1970 | Tall Bearded Iris (Iris Let It Rain)

avant garde fashion inspiration

Details at Gucci Spring 2017 | Jellyfish

avant garde fashion inspiration

Details at Atelier Versace Fall 2016 | Genevieve’s Wave (detail) by MATTHEW CUSICK, 2014, inlaid maps on panel

fashion design

Details at Thierry Mugler Spring 2013 | Agate (series) by Paul Juno

fashion design inspiration

Details at Francesco Scognamiglio Fall 2015 | Sunset in the desert

fashion inspiration

Lady Gaga photographed by Nick Knight and styled by Jessica Diehl for Vanity Fair September 2010 | Could study by John Constable, 1822

avant garde clothing

“The White Story” photographed by Matilde Travassos for Vision China | Frozen waterfall photographed by PIA VALESCA in Aspen, USA

runway fashion design

Details at Chloé Spring 2010 | Rough Sea series (photo detail) by Giovanni Allievi

runway fashion design

Details at Loewe Spring 2017 | La malédiction (detail) by René Magritte, 1963

runway fashion design

Valentino Pre-Fall 2015 | Solar System painting by unknown

fashion inspiration

Details at Dolce & Gabbana Fall 2012 | Margravial Opera House in Bayreuth, Germany

fashion inspiration

Details at Gucci Spring 2016 | Split Leaf Philodendron

runway fashion design

Maison Margiela Haute Couture Fall 2014 | Irises (detail) by Vincent van Gogh

fashion inspiration

Details at Gucci Spring 2017 | Jellyfish

runway fashion design

Marchesa Spring 2017 | CONTROLLED BURNS (series) by Kevin Cooley

High fashion also draws inspiration from abstract elements…

fashion design

Chloe Norgaard photographed by Terry Richardson | Fluid Painting by Mark Chadwick

Fluid movement…

fashion design

Shoes at Christopher Kane Fall 2016 | Painting by James Nares

…and food.

runway fashion design

Details at J.W. Anderson Fall 2013 | Onighiri (おにぎり)

Where I See Fashion: Tumblr | Instagram | Facebook
h/t: [Design TAXI]

All images and captions via Bianca Luini.

Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met, Manager of My Modern Met Store, and co-host of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. As an illustrator and writer living in Seattle, she chronicles illustration, embroidery, and beyond through her blog Brown Paper Bag and Instagram @brwnpaperbag. She wrote a book about embroidery artist Sarah K. Benning titled 'Embroidered Life' that was published by Chronicle Books in 2019. Sara is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art. She earned her BFA in Illustration in 2008 and MFA in Illustration Practice in 2013.
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