Lady Gaga has probably challenged her Milliner with unusual & sometimes bizarre requests. Hat designing is all about making a woman feel like a woman but some of these designs are far from that. Is there a place for some of her concepts in Mainstream Millinery or should they be left for the catwalks and theater?
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I can appreciate most types of art, and fashion is a form of art. While I can appreciate the art and workmanship that goes into outrageous costuming, that doesn't mean that I would necessarily wear it myself. However, that doesn't mean that we can't borrow certain elements. After all much of what we see on the catwalks is "watered down" for the general public. I think designing outrageous hats can help to fuel our creativity and help us to stretch and broaden our abilities.
Apparently, hat designing is much more than just making a woman feel like a woman. For people like Gaga, and the runway it's about visual impact, shock effect, and exhibitionism!!! For the designer, and celeb, it's also about ego and self-expression!!! Designing is without a doubt, self indulgence. A necessary ingredient!!
I'm going to self-indulge today in fact!! And with great relish on a new 1940's French hat block that just arrived!!!
I agree with Elsie that the runway is mostly about visual impact. I like to think of it as wearable art - and like so much art, it is about personal taste. I may be impressed by artworks and appreciate the design, workmanship and pizzaz, but doesn't necessarily mean I want to put it on my walls (or my head). I will probably remember the name of the artist though - and isn't that the point?
I wonder though if some of this is going a bit too far. There seems to be in much fashion these days (esp. that worn by Gaga) to make the viewer 'feel' something - and it seems that if the viewer can't be made to feel admiration or wonder - then shock is OK. What's next - repulsion, horror??
Lady Gaga and others in that business is all about "LOOK AT ME." The mainstream woman is about " I want to feel pretty, like a woman, and not stand out too much." So, even though I can admire the work involved it the more outlandish headwear, I believe most women would rather stick to the more traditional.
I also believe that the outlandish has given rise to a decrease in the wearing of millinery by the average woman because, as with clothing, when the average woman sees the outlandish on the catwalk they feel that this is what is expected of them, if they wear a hat, and they don't want to go there.
I think many people appreciate the fact that Lady Gaga is not just using her music as a form of self expression, but she is also using her appearance to express herself artistically. On a number of occasions she has talked about treating fashion and her look as an art form. Comparing her hats to hats most women would wear is a bit like comparing haute couture to the womenswear floors of a department store. I think there is room for both ends of the spectrum, and she has probably opened a number of people's eyes to what is possible in millinery.
She is a huge supporter of Philip Treacy and Stephen Jones, and I'm sure they love being able to flex their creative muscles on something a little more outlandish. What she wears is always beautifully made, even if it's not to many people's taste.
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