The Art Of The Runway

This week we will be discussing runway concepts in fashion. I've been into fashion for a long while but my love for runways is relatively new. I want to use this post to highlight some of the interesting concepts I've seen in recent history. It's important to have an appreciation for the art beyond the clothing. I personally think runway art is an important part of brand identity and marketing.

I first got into runway concepts about four years ago. What captivates me is the stage design and music they pair with the clothing. Visuals and sounds make or break a runway for me. What they decide to attach to the release of their collection, sonically and visually is beyond important. The clothes in the collection don't have to be amazing if the show makes up for it. I know that might be a crazy stance to some, but presentation plays a huge role in persuasion with anything you're trying to sell. I'm not trying to turn this into a blog about marketing, in fact, marketing is a part of it but the real meat of this is in the art. Marketing aside, in art and theatre the aesthetics have to be captivating to some level for people to revere and speak highly of it. The quality doesn't have to be driven by marketability but rather art, passion, and a drive to create. In all honesty I don't often care too much for the clothes in a collection. It's the art beyond it that possesses me. The concept and setting they create is a medium for me to appreciate the clothes more, if I'm not already feeling it. It tells a story; it creates a world within the brand in that collection that shows me just how impressive the minds of the brand are.

One of my favorite shows from last year was the Balenciaga FW 2022 Collection. I know it's a basic example but it's perfect. While many shows overwhelmingly just have models walking up and down a catwalk, Balenciaga had their models walk in a circular room with a simulated snowstorm. How is that not amazing? It's literally a 4D experience. The all-black dystopian clothing met with the heavy fall of snow knocks me out every time. Not to mention the piano keys in the first five minutes of the show. The collection is clean and barbarous with the calm yet harsh environment adds so many layers to this show that inspire me every time I watch it. Another show I enjoyed a lot from last year was the Gucci Twinsburg show. The show started by showing models walking in a line next to a wall of portfolio photos. At the halfway point of the show the wall rises up revealing another side of models who're identical to the ones we saw on our side. The show sat two different audiences on each side of the wall; presented them the same models and fits, and then revealed that there were twins and another audience all along. That is nothing short of genius in my book. In this specific show I wasn't mad at the collection, but the concept made up for the semi-unimpressive clothing designs. The last recent show I want to highlight is the Louis Vuitton Men's Fall/Winter 2022. Scored by Tyler the Creator and performed two months after the death of Virgil Abloh, this show has a special place in my heart. The stage was theatrical and cartoonish. Models came out of a single door with a shining orange/gold light. Moreover, the models were walking in a seemingly unorganized fashion; it was a very graceful chaos. That show was scored so well I listen to it when I bike. I appreciate the clothes but it's far from being the main draw to that show. A few other notable runway concepts from recent memory include Louis Vuitton's Men's Spring/Summer 2023, Vetements AH 2023, Gucci 100, Dior Fall/Winter 2023, Dior Men Fall 2023, Givenchy Spring/Summer 2022, Chanel Fall/Winter 2019 and Off-White Fall/Winter 2023. I know I'm highlighting a lot of well-known brands but what sets these brands apart are their creative teams and their budget. There are plenty of other shows that're meaningful to me, but these are the shows that have stuck with me over the past few years.

I'm sure I'm not alone in the way I approach fashion shows. There is much more to the world of fashion than clothes. Range is another factor that is important in fashion. There can be an overarching theme, but the execution can't be similar to a show you just performed (in my opinion). People want to know that they appreciate a brand that is creative. I know I wouldn't want to watch a one trick pony of a clothing brand. To explain further what creative means in this context, it means having the capacity to output dozens of varying aesthetics all under the same name. I'll use Balenciaga as an example again. Their Summer 2023 collection featured a mud pit where models walked around the mud. In the NYC Spring show, it was stock market themed, but it was met with noise and techno music. These concepts show tremendous range for Balenciaga, thus getting people invested into their ideas, not just their clothing. The shows help build an individual aesthetic for the collection, and an umbrella of creativity in the brand. As I said before, the art is what persuades people to buy into the item, product, idea, anything. One day I will try to really focus on a directed topic about the beauty of art and how imperative it is to life. Humor, paintings, music, sculpting, theatre, sitting, drawing, travelling, cooking, and writing are all important parts of our life even if we don't register it. One day I'll talk about that, but all of my ideas for a discussion are unfocused in my head. We have come to the end of this week's blog, but I encourage y'all to check out the video links I posted if you're interested. I will also leave a gallery below to show some of the shows I spoke on. Hope y'all have a great weekend.

Dior Men's Fall 2023 in front of the Pyramids of Giza

Louis Vuitton Mens Summer 2023 at The Louvre in Paris

Louis Vuitton Men's Fall/Winter 2022

Gucci 100, celebrating 100 years of Gucci on Hollywood Blvd