Tizzdale Frazier
20th Century Designers
Final Project
20th Century Designers
Final Project
INTRODUCTION
I became interested in fashion when I was around age 15. While growing up my parent could never afford what everyone around me considered fashionable. I would end up shopping at Goodwill and Ross for school clothes (looking back now doesn't sound that bad but at the time I was embarrassed). I use to watch my grandmother crochet and began wanting to learn because I wanted to make myself a bathing suit. Once my grandmother taught me how to crochet I wanted to learn how to sew so I could make myself the clothes I couldn't afford. Again, my grandmother taught me and I began making little shirts or dresses that my friends would want to borrow. After high school I tried to open my own online business. Although, it wasn't successful I learned a lot. I learned that I loved the stress of working with a budget and crunching numbers. So while I loved sewing I decided I would focus on the business aspects of the fashion industry, which lead me to merchandise marketing.
After I receive my degree in merchandise marketing I want to pursue buying or visual merchandising for a store. By learning about past and present designers I will be able to know where certain influences come from. It would be incredibly embarrassing if my boss told me "I need you to purchase some Vionnet-type piece", and I have no clue who she was talking about. Styles always come back in one form or another so it is paramount to know designers from different eras as well as what they contributed to fashion. No matter what aspect of the fashion industry you want to be in it is your duty to learn about fashion history, because without it there would be no fashion.
I love being able to look at current designers and be able to point out different influences from the past. Learning about different designers throughout the 20th century has really made me look at fashion in a whole new way. I have great respect for those who have made their contributions to history. I can now thank certain people for certain garments (i.e. the corset, thank you Paul Poiret and Madame Vionnet!).
When I was in high school I was trying to learn about all of these current designers, which was overwhelming. There are so many today that they all start merging together in your head. I now feel that the designers that are important to know are the ones that have made a substantial impact in the history of fashion.
I tend to lean towards designers that are more edgy and different. I like the ones that do not always follow the fads of fashion so closely, but instead try more innovative approaches. However, I also want to learn more about designers that I did not know much about. That is why I chose to research Jeanne Paquin, Roberto Capucci, Paco Rabanne, Isaac Mizrahi and Catherine Malandrino. Jeanne Paquin opening the doors for women designers, Roberto Capucci and his impact on Italian fashion, Paco Rabanne's innovative use of unconventional materials, Isaac Mizrahi's pop of color on sportswear, and Catherine Malandrino's epic 'flag' collections. The five come from very different eras and have each contributed something different to the fashion world.
After I receive my degree in merchandise marketing I want to pursue buying or visual merchandising for a store. By learning about past and present designers I will be able to know where certain influences come from. It would be incredibly embarrassing if my boss told me "I need you to purchase some Vionnet-type piece", and I have no clue who she was talking about. Styles always come back in one form or another so it is paramount to know designers from different eras as well as what they contributed to fashion. No matter what aspect of the fashion industry you want to be in it is your duty to learn about fashion history, because without it there would be no fashion.
I love being able to look at current designers and be able to point out different influences from the past. Learning about different designers throughout the 20th century has really made me look at fashion in a whole new way. I have great respect for those who have made their contributions to history. I can now thank certain people for certain garments (i.e. the corset, thank you Paul Poiret and Madame Vionnet!).
When I was in high school I was trying to learn about all of these current designers, which was overwhelming. There are so many today that they all start merging together in your head. I now feel that the designers that are important to know are the ones that have made a substantial impact in the history of fashion.
I tend to lean towards designers that are more edgy and different. I like the ones that do not always follow the fads of fashion so closely, but instead try more innovative approaches. However, I also want to learn more about designers that I did not know much about. That is why I chose to research Jeanne Paquin, Roberto Capucci, Paco Rabanne, Isaac Mizrahi and Catherine Malandrino. Jeanne Paquin opening the doors for women designers, Roberto Capucci and his impact on Italian fashion, Paco Rabanne's innovative use of unconventional materials, Isaac Mizrahi's pop of color on sportswear, and Catherine Malandrino's epic 'flag' collections. The five come from very different eras and have each contributed something different to the fashion world.