A study for the impact of impressionism period’s coloring, style and mode on fashion designers

Abstract

Impressionism is a result of scientific and social developments’ influence on art and cultural movements during 1870’s. Impressionism, as being the brand new and the most important development in art during 19th century, has represented the modern painting with a strict separation from former understanding of art. While other art movements of 19th century have been maintained the relations or bore trace from classical understanding, impressionists severed all these ties. Instead of observing the nature in a realistic manner, they used impressions of observing it on art. Fashion in the most general sense, is representing the change. Whereas, fashion has been seen as the synonym of dressing, it involves all the aspects of human life. The Belle Epoque Era (1890-1914) that comprised a coy eroticism in fashion overlaps with the Impressionism period. It was a period characterized by an extensive freedom, economic growth and scientific development in Europe. New daily sport clothes and expensive night dresses were the source of inspiration in fashion. Trains and cars made it possible to spend time at the outside for everybody and new fashion styles adopted for social activities. This study is intended to analyze Impressionism Period’s impact on fashion designers. The clothes of the period are going to be investigated from the view point of their color, style, models and accessories.

Keywords: Fashion, art, impressionism, belle epoque