If you’ve paid any attention to the fashion press, you’ll know that this season’s trend is everything Italian. So if you’re looking for great inspiration, be sure to check out my friend Alessandro’s blog, The Fashion Commentator. He constantly delights me with the best of Italian fashion – great images, insightful observations, and the text is even bilingual! A few weeks ago, he inspired me to write today’s post. I hope you enjoy it, and be sure to check out his blog and Facebook page!
Moschino shirt, 1989. Image courtesy of The Fashion Commentator.
Alessandro always posts great images, but I was quite taken by this Moschino shirt. The sunny-side-up eggs were just so funny to me. Food and fashion have had a long-standing relationship, which I learned about from my friend Emma. She gave a presentation, Food & Fashion, at the CSA symposium back in May. Many textile and fashion designers choose prints that depict food. Miuccia Prada and Vera Neumann come to mind! (Interested in learning more about Emma’s presentation? Contact her at emmakpenner@gmail.com)
Apple print shirt by Vera Neumann. Image courtesy of Emma Kadar-Penner.
Vera Neumann “Insalata” print for Crate & Barrel. Miuccia Prada “Banana” print. Images courtesy of Crate & Barrel and iloveartificial.blogspot.com.
After seeing all these textile prints inspired by food, I couldn’t help but see the resemblance to Giuseppe Arcimboldo (1527-1593). Arcimboldo was a Renaissance painter based in Milan. He created fantastical portraits where the sitter was made entirely of food.
Vertumnus, the Roman God of the Seasons by Arcimboldo, c. 1590. Oil on canvas. Image courtesy of Skokloster Castle.
Autumn by Arcimboldo, c. 1572. Oil on canvas. Private collection, Bergamo. Image courtesy of all-art.org
Summer by Arcimboldo, c. 1563. Oil on panel. Image courtesy of reproarte.com
These paintings always fascinate me. The level of skill and imagination it takes to create a distinct portrait comprised of food is something I can’t wrap my mind around. It also seems like Arcimboldo was predicting Surrealist art back in the Renaissance.
Moschino loves Altreforme – Pasta print. Image courtesy of The Fashion Commentator.
I wonder if Prada and Moschino were inspired by Arcimboldo’s paintings, or if they just liked combining fashion and food. Either way, its fun!
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Hi Monica, thank you so much for the high regard. I am glad that my blog and all the images on Fb have inspired you this post. I’m captured by the reference to Vera Neumann and Prada, also because the banana print reminds me of Andy Warhol and then the most famous Velvet Underground’s album. It’s very interesting how all these pieces compose a sort of mosaic that links art, music, fashion and food.
I’m happy when internet creates this kind of “universal brain storming” :)))
See you soon on Fb ;)
Alessandro
Together, we are unstoppable. :) Keep posting cool stuff! And if you would like a guest post anytime, let me know. I should keep practicing writing in Italian! La grammatica si va se non usi :-/
So interesting! That pasta print is the best, though I really do love a great Vera print.
The pasta print is really amazing. Wouldn’t it be a great dress? *sigh*
I enjoy your posts, and this one reminded me of a blog I like, connecting fashion and food – http://www.tasteofrunway.com. Check out categories and try some of the recipes :)
Thanks! I’ll check it out :)