Surrealism and Fashion

Photograph by Man Ray

Son of Man

by Rene Magritte

1946

Surrealism is an aspect of modernism that might be

viewed as so esoteric it's had little real impact,

but their major principle of strange juxtapositions

has had lasting influence.

Surrealism in fashion is more than just

a blip on the historical landscape.

Here is a costume Adrian designed for Rosalind Russell

for the 1939 movie The Women.

Parisian Elsa Schiaparelli also collaborated with

surrealists for fashion.

Here she is wearing her shoe/hat and a fitted jacket with

pockets shaped like lips.

Above a Schiaparelli dress printed with rips and tears.

Fabric by Salvador Dali.

A collaboration between Schiaparelli and

Jean Cocteau, 1937

Most of Schiaparelli's surrealistic designs were too outre for any customers,

but her Bowknot knit sweater from 1927

is just on this side of the edge,

where it's had a good deal of influence

Inspiring a dress by Hermes.

Another Adrian with an illusional swag designed into the fabric.

Mikanos from Maison Lanvin

1970

Lady Gaga's been thinking about surrealism

And so has designer

Piero Fornasetti

T-shirt in the surrealistic tradition

Surrealism endures.