The Art Deco movement of the 20s and 30s cut across all areas of innovative design; fashion, architecture, furniture, cars, and even locomotive seats. If you are in search of vintage fashion from the 20s or 30s style, it is hard to miss the influence of Art Deco on fashion design. The Art Deco was short for the French Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes or International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts, which was held in Paris to showcase new thinking in design. Art Deco was a celebration of glamour, luxury, and generally a good life full of hope after the destructive First World War.
In fashion, the Art Deco influence was seen in simpler but thoughtful roaring 20s fashion notably the Garconne look. Fashion designers discarded the heavily layered looks of the Edwardian era in favor of simple lines, geometric shapes, and use of luxurious materials in their designs. Art Deco designers took inspirations from different cultures, civilizations, and events from around the world. The discovery of King Tut’s tomb in Egypt had a big impact on Art Deco with lots of ancient Egyptian abstract figures like Sphinxes and hieroglyphs seen on jewelry. Oriental influences could also be seen in turbans, harem, and pants. There were more influences from around the world that made very innovative and vibrant designs. Who were the big designers who used Art Deco?
Art Deco Designer Sonia Delaunay
Sonia straddled booth worlds of art and fashion. She was a painter and a fashion designer borrowing influences from abstractness, cubism, and fauvism. Her Atelier Simultane was in Paris showcased patchwork garments with a rich mix of materials and colors. She dubbed her design concept simultanéisme. She worked with Dada artists to make poem dresses that were decorated with lines of poetry and geometric shapes. She designed garment items for other Art Deco artists such as Louis Aragon and Tristan Tzara.
Art Deco Designer Georges Lepape
Lepape was an illustrator for Vogue Magazine back when pictures were drawn by hand before technology could allow photos to be included in print. His oriental inspirations could be seen in his illustrations with turbans, harem pants, and other flowing garments. These illustrations were the only available means of following fashion trends for fashion fans which made his works known.
Art Deco Designer Rene Lalique
Lalique was one of the most admired master jewelers of the Art Deco movement. His specialty was glass design from which he created innovative perfume holders and jewelry pieces. He worked for famous jewelry brands Cartier and Boucheron. He is famous for working with glass to bring out prismatic qualities in which light is an essential part of the decoration.
Art Deco Designer Elsa Schiaparelli
Schiaparelli was one of the most innovative fashion designers in the 20s and 30s. She introduced the bias cut which changed the way clothes hung on a body. This technique used a 45-degree cut of the fabric which made the seams cling better to the body’s contours. She also worked with other famous art deco artists like Salvador Dali in very innovative designs.
Art Deco Designer Coco Chanel
Chanel was perhaps the biggest name in women’s fashion in the 20th century. She infused cubist influences in her frock like chemise designs were dominant in the 1920s, in turn influencing trends such as the flapper dress.
The Art Deco’s stamp on fashion is unmissable. These are must-have items if you are collecting vintage fashion.
