It’s never rare in fashion when a material as basic as paper can be elevated to ethereal heights. Recently, paper has become a medium for more than books and office supplies. From Dior’s spring couture show, which makes subtle references at the great history of paper snowflake making, to Gareth Pugh’s shingled works, to architecture such as Mattias Lind’s livable, life-size Chameleon House, paper is everywhere.
The emergence of paper as a mode for style expression is a significant marker for the change of seasons as well. Paper is expressed in fashion by cutouts, signifying the absence of fabric, as well as the presence. Paper becomes sexy when contorted into a filmy gown, trailing in a myriad of flickering cards and slices.
Paper is a historic medium that designers, architects and artists are turning to for its timelessness and effortless beauty. This seemingly simple material has been in existence from papyrus to Microsoft Word, and now the art world is beginning to show the extent of paper’s use to the rest of us.
The details of Dior’s Spring 2014 Couture Collection are all delicate, eyelet patterns, yet many of the looks are less feminine and more modernized.
See the entire collection here
The Paper Chameleon Cabin changes color when viewed from different sides.
See each angle of the Paper Chameleon Cabin here
The Notecard Jacket is part of Gareth Pugh’s 2014 Ready-To-Wear Collection.
