Delaunay Dalliance

>> “Colour is the skin of the world.”  “One who knows how to appreciate colour relationships, the influence of one colour on another, their contrasts and dissonances, is promised an infinitely diverse imagery.”  Sonia Delaunay’s Wiki-ubiquitous quotes make a strong case for letting colour flourish in one’s surrounding aesthetics.  So did my Junya Watanabe S/S 15 skirt, which I wore to catch the EY exhibition dedicated to Delaunay at the Tate Modern yesterday before it came to an end.  One person thought I was a performing part of the exhibition with my walking canvas of a skirt.  It’s just one stellar example of how Delaunay’s brilliant cross-displinary pattern and colour compositions has filtered down into fashion.  Or as Delaunay would have put it, into life, as she saw no difference between her paintings and her “decorative” work, placing equal importance on both oil on canvas and stitched up fabric patchwork.  In part, Delaunay solves the problematic relationship between fashion and art by treating both as a commercial and creative enterprise without sacrificing the one thing that unites both clothes and canvas – their ability to visually stimulate the eye.

No surprise that Delaunay’s imprint on fashion and textiles is frequently evident in my own wardrobe.  If Casa Sonia still existed today, I’d probably be an avid customer.  I picked up Gerard Lo Monaco’s sweet book, which renders Delaunay’s works into imaginative pop-up pages.  It might be a children’s book but like the supposedly “minor arts” that Delaunay immersed herself into, it’s a beautiful book in its own right.  I thought I’d use it to dip into my wardrobe for Delaunay-isms…

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0E5A2705Discs, 1968 (carpet), Abstract Composition, 1940 (lithograph) – Junya Watanabe top and skirt, Tabitha Simmons shoes

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0E5A2739Black Ball, 1965 (gouache on paper) – David David sweater, Comme des Garçons Homme Plus kilt, Jacquemus coat, Y-3 trainers

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0E5A2743Endless Rhythm, Dance, 1964 (oil painting on a canvas) – Alexander McQueen jacket, Yolke pyjama set, Pleats Please top

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0E5A2762Untitled, 1948 (fabric design) – Walter van Beirendonck top, & Other Stories x Sadie Williams skirt, Être Cécile sweatshirt, Sophia Webster boots

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0E5A2784Child’s Play, 1969 (Aubusson tapestry) – Topman shirt, Sibling knit top, vintage print dress, Pollini clogs

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0E5A2838Coloured Rhythm, 1953 (oil painting on canvas) – Missoni knit top, MSGM yellow top, Comme des Garçons skirt, Adieu shoes

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25 comments

  1. Pingback: Delaunay Dalliance | ModeKiosk

  4. lovely post, I Love Sonia’s work and impact, and you are wearing some of the best outfits I’ve seen you in so far…gorgeous

  11. Saw you at the Tate and said, “I love your work.” Was looking forward to seeing this post! Told all my girls back in Toronto you were wearing Junya Watanabe! Love, Marnie.

  12. You honor Delaunay is such a fantastic way. I love your bold fashion sense, so chic and original.

  13. I love the way you bring things to life! You will go very far and be very successful! Your designs are creative and different.

    My sister has a website from weebly. She used my name.

  14. You mentioned children’s books. Do you get a lot of inspiration from just children’s book? or just what ever pops into your head?

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