By: Morgan Scott
Fashion itself is magical; it is an art form that allows people to become someone else for the night. Getting dressed up like a Princess or Prince just for a moment. In Fashion, stylists are the Fairy Godmothers of high fashion and the models are the main characters. Taking inspiration from all walks of life all over the Earth. Along with the history of fashion within fairy tales, it makes sense that they are intertwined with each other. Also, see throughout history, fashion trends have changed what characters wear and how society views fairytales. This is illustrated specifically through the history of fairy tales in fashion, fairy tales influencing fashion show collections, and other fashion events that incorporate fairytales into them. Like fairy tales, fashion tells a story with underlying meanings and details that people need to look deeper to understand. So, fashion creators take inspiration from a multitude of different fairy tales. Fairy Tales have always been an integral part of high fashion and fashion trends, which have inspired the community in numerous ways.
In history, fairy tales have been a way that people have enriched themselves and entertained themselves. First, they started as oral stories and traditions that people would tell to their families and passed down. The clothing that was described in the stories were often those of the clothes that were worn from that time period. Things such as Cinderella’s “glass slipper” which was a fur shoe. Also, Little Red Riding Hood’s red cloak has been a different article of clothing based on when and where it was told. The earliest oral renditions of stories all have different outfits from when they were first told, yet are still just important to the story. Then in the 18th century, fairy tales started to be turned into written versions and eventually published. The authors Charles Perrault and Grimm Brothers changed the stories to fit the fashion standard of the time(Rozario). This was the Victorian era so dresses were large and flowy. The silhouettes were considered ethereal with intricate embellishments. This is where many of the iconic fairytale princesses got their dress designs from. This also coincides with the Romanticism era. Which often put showcased fairy tales within women’s fashion illustrations and literature to highlight how to be a “proper woman”. Out of these eras came elaborate ball gowns, corsets fit for princess attire, and accessories riddled with motifs.
After that in the late 19th and early 20th century, there was a surge in fairytales in trending culture due to the Art Nouveau movement and Belle Époque era. Art Nouveau which focused on natural forms and feminine mystique coexisted with fairy tales. In turn, introduced floral motifs and romantic symbolism into fairytales. This then influenced fashion with flowing lines and floral patterns. The French Belle Époque era then added to the popularization of fairy tale themes in fashion. Some designers like Charles Frederick Worth created luxurious gowns that depicted the elegance of fairy tale heroines. Later into the 20th century fairy tales were introduced to Hollywood adaptations. The onscreen costumes were then directly taken from fashion trends of the time(Rozario). The 1950s animated ‘Cinderella’ and ‘Sleeping Beauty’ display fashion from that time. Cinderella’s working outfit and Aurora’s everyday outfit are an ode to the women of the time’s outfits. In today’s Fashion fairy tales are drawn more often with high fashion brands taking motifs and narratives in their collections but giving it a modern twist. Fashion photography and editorials repeatedly feature large-scale sets, costumes, and storytelling to illustrate the themes of classic fairy tales. Rebecca-Anne Rozario, a Literary Studies at Monash University, Australia says “The key is bringing these threads together—exploring how the fashion system and material cultures have influenced the way fairy tales have evolved”(Rozario). This means both fashion and fairy tales have evolved and changed each other. Through the timeless power that fairytales hold, it is continuously shown in fashion trends and couture.
Though fairy tales now are known through reading, the most prominent statements in Fashion are made on the runways. When people think of high fashion and designs their minds normally go to runway shows. Runway shows are ways that designers and brands showcase their new collections and what their brands are going to represent for that season. Often when a runway show is based on fairy tales the designers take a creative and childlike route to enchant the audience and remind them of their former selves. They are able to reinterpret classic fairy tales in a simulating and visual way; that not only keeps the audience entertained but also able to relate to the models they see walking due to the familiarity with the clothes that are based on fairy tales told to them in their childhood. Just as fairytales do, runway shows tell a story and each piece of clothing from the collection contributes to the overarching plot.
Along with storytelling runways take design elements, fantasy, silhouettes, and emotional connections all from the fairy tale they are basing their collections on. For design elements, things such as certain aesthetics taking specific coloring and patterns that are often associated with the chosen fairytales. The fantasy aspect of fairy tales is needed to make the fashion show credible to the audience. If the idea of a fairytale is not showcased well, not only will the pieces in the show reflect that but the audience will know right away because the stories used are normally well known. So the creation of fantasy is highly important for the success of a fairytale-inspired runway and looks. Silhouettes are sometimes based on the dresses and clothing from all different characters in the fairytales. Additionally with emotional connection, which relates to the feeling of nostalgia and the themes that are presented during the show. The nostalgia comes from the fairy tales that were told from childhood. Themes in shows such as love, courage, transformation, and overcoming are associated with fairytales that evoke an emotional reaction from the audience.
Fashion Shows/Looks from Fairy Tales:
Comme des Garçons Spring 2015:
This Comme des Garçons look is an ode to Little Red Riding Hood. The entire collection was fully red. This avant-garde show was to represent passion and aggressive love. Every single model was adorned in all Red. So, it makes sense that within the collection there would be a Red Riding Hood look. This collection had multiple themes that relate to the fairytale. Within the Little Red Riding Hood fairy tale, the aggressive wolf almost yearns for the young child in an uncomfortable way. The love she has for her grandmother to stand up to the wolf. Also, blood within fairytales is a large motif that symbolizes multiple things. This collection was also full of aggression, love, and symbols of blood that empathized well-constructed designs that would not have caused such intense emotional reactions without these themes(Ajie).
Alice and Olivia Fall 2014:
Though this was the look that stood out the most as being inspired by a fairy tale the entire collection seemed to reminisce childlike wonder. The setting was made to look like an enchanted forest. There were multiple homages to other fairy tales as well like Snow White and Cinderella. The themes of this collection were that of childlike wonder and to be like a children’s pop-up. The utilization of bringing a magical forest alive and showcasing the pieces puts the audiences into the fairytales and feel like they are there. This Rapunzel look is a direct take away from the fairy tale of her long hair and flowy dress. The dark makeup, smokey eyeshadow, and red lips, juxtaposed with the bright clothing truly show the essence of fairy tales. While they seem sweet and a message for kids, however, there is a deeper, darker meaning sometimes that makes audiences look within themselves as the monster in the story(Thatcher).
Givenchy Couture 1997:
The Givenchy Couture show was inspired by both Greek mythology clothing and then fairytales. This look was inspired by the Wicked Stepmother in several fairytales. The themes of this show are attitude and fantasticality. The conjunction of fairy tales and Greek mythology creates an ethereal look for the entire show. The theme of attitude is perfect for a stepmother’s looks because in most fairy tales, her attitude is the reason for the heroine’s downfall but also hers in the end. The look is inspired by the animated 1950s ‘Cinderella’, specifically the hair, and the outfit as a whole are similar to the Wicked Stepmother from the 1987 Broadway production of ‘Into The Woods’. Though the whole collection is not completely inspired by fairytales, many looks take themes and wardrobe from them (Ghanem).
However, it is not only just fashion runways that incorporate fairy tales into their fashion. Fairy tales are seen on the red carpet. A specific runway that sees a lot of fairy tale references is the MET Gala. Celebrities’ MET Gala looks are not just supposed to be on theme for that year, but also tell a story through their outfit. As an event that is based on fashion and is marketed as a place for high fashion, it corresponds with the history of fairy tales also being used to invite innovation and creativity to their outfits. One look that stands out is Zendeya’s 2019 MET Gala look. The theme was Camp: Notes on Fashion, so for her outfit, she dressed up as Cinderella and her stylist Law Roach came on the red carpet dressed as her fairy godmother (Vogue). Then with a wave of a wand, smoke came out of it and just like in the Disney Cinderella movie the dress lit up and rose. This display was a direct pull from the 1950s ‘Cinderella’ as her fairy godmother dressed her up for the ball. Both have a fairy godmother to dress them up, they are both getting ready for the “ball”, and they are both known for standing out the most at this “ball”. The parallels between Cinderella and Zendya illustrate why this was such a good idea for the MET.
Along with the MET and other red carpets, there are also exhibits and museums dedicated to displaying high fashion. While the MET Gala is an event it is held at The MET museum that is all about fashion throughout history. Just like The MET the NYC Fit Museum is also dedicated to housing fashion. One exhibit that they housed was the 2016 ‘Fairy Tale Fashion’, examining fairy tales through the lens of high fashion. In the exhibit, they define fairy tale fashion as “clothing that is especially lavish, beautiful, and seemingly unattainable” (Hill). The museum had multiple sections that were dedicated to specific fairy tales and some full collections that were full of items that reference fairy tales. Though the exhibit is no longer in the museum it still stands as one of the most unique and imaginative collections they had.
When it comes to fashion there are a lot of ways that people can create and showcase their skills. However, when it comes to taking inspiration from fairytale designers, stylists, and even models throughout history have done it in a remarkable and long-lasting way. Fairy tales have been around for a long time and have had an impact on almost every part of the fashion world. People still to this day take time to pay homage and create things based on a mirage of fairy tales means that in high fashion, people respect and like clothes and designs that represent the same things that fairytales do. Not just the characters and stories, but also the deeper things like themes and motifs that stick with both readers and watchers. Trends have been started, ended, and continued with fairy tales in fashion and will probably continue to do so as fashion evolves and changes.
Work Cited
Ajie, Teuku. “Comme Des Garçons Spring 2015 RTW.” DEW Magazine, 30 Sept. 2014, www.dewmagazine.com/comme-des-garcons-spring-2015-rtw/.
Ghanem, Khaoula. “Couture #beautyhistory: Alexander McQueen’s 1997 Debut at Givenchy.” Vogue Arabia, 19 Jan. 2016, en.vogue.me/archive/backstage-confidential/alexander-mcqueen-givenchy-haute-couture-debut-1997/.
Hill, Colleen. “Fairy Tale Fashion – Google Arts & Culture.” Google, Google, 2016, artsandculture.google.com/story/fairy-tale-fashion-the-museum-at-fit/PgXBun-debzuKw?hl=en.
Vogue. “Met Gala 2019 Red Carpet: See All the Celebrity Dresses, Outfits, and Looks Here.” Vogue, Vogue, 7 May 2019, www.vogue.com/slideshow/met-gala-2019-red-carpet-live-celebrity-fashion.
Rozario, Rebecca-Anne. (2018). Fashion in the Fairy Tale Tradition. 10.1007/978-3-319-91101-4.
Thatcher, Andrea. “Alice + Olivia Transports Onlookers to a Whimsical Fairytale Land for Fall 2014 (Runway Review).” theFashionSpot, 11 Feb. 2014, www.thefashionspot.com/runway-news/372969-alice-olivia-fall-2014/.
