If Aliens Could Walk The Runway
Unlikely muses in psychedelic fashion
Written by Katherine Adams, Fashion Staff Writer
Any designer, photographer or creator will tell you that artistic ideas can arise from just about anything. Otherwise known as muses, these sources can range from people to items to fleeting thoughts. Generally, the most compelling works of art stem from this type of once fascinating—and now reimagined—focal point.
When it comes to fashion, this is very much the same. Historically, the clothing deemed “in” usually represents the designer’s creative instincts as well as the object or idea behind it. Especially in psychedelic or “trance-like” fashion, muses don't just make futuristic fashion the height of imaginative couture––they are couture.
Exploring several examples of these unique muses is crucial to understanding the essence of how this eccentric subset of design functions. Between every day and the runway, this aspect of fashion design usually hones in on the concept of “the future.” Aliens, sci-fi films and other futuristic concepts are, and have always been, a core motivation behind psychedelic wear (Friedman, 2022). Most fashions with this inspiration include sleek, shimmery or glowy garments that accent distinctly inhuman features on the face or body.
In addition to the futuristic side of psychedelic couture, the idea of illusions is another artistic catalyst. Especially with the normalization of drug and alcohol use, the feeling of being on a high as a template for the creation of wearable art is highly popular. This type of colorful whimsey is also adopted in art influenced by dreams and desires. Both are similarly dopamine-inducing and, together with drugs and alcohol, inspire much of the nouveau chic we see today.
Muses for psychedelic fashion design can also come from one’s personal environment. This includes street art, landscapes or the people that inhabit these areas. Largely, however, this concept tends to involve the planet as a whole. Mimicking naturalistic patterns and forms is a common avenue of choice when it comes to extraordinary apparel (Pitcher, 2020). Even today, utilizing fabrics in a way that emulates yet reinvents everything from the stars to the sea is a popular methodology.
Beyond future concepts, illusions and naturalistic factors, another inspiration that has been used throughout history is music. Between the notable eras of musical hyperfocus, the reflection of popular types of music on what people wear is highly apparent; in the ‘20s, the jazz era sparked the then-shocking flapper attire; the ‘60s brought about the easygoing sentiments of artists like The Beatles that manifested into “newfangled” colorful and creative clothing (Luxtailor, 2021). Now, EDM and mainstream pop have done their part by imprinting on the newest fashions. Rave wear and streetwear both reflect the impacts of rap, R&B and pop on ultra-modernized clothes.
Inevitably, our muses will fluctuate with the culture and time period at the present or foreseen moment. Yet, the heart of what is attempted to be represented tends to stay the same. When it comes to psychedelic fashion, the idea of slipping away into an alternate reality that models the best parts of ours is the usual inspiration.
Sources:
Friedman, V. (2022, September 30). The Science of Style. The New York Times.
Luxtailor. (2021, March 12). History of fashion: 1920's Flappers & The New Woman. Luxtailor.
Pitcher, L. (2020, November 5). Wearable art's comeback: Fashion is the new canvas for one-of-a-kind paintings. Observer.