Classicism

Classicism in fashion and art may be defined as an aesthetic attitude derived from ancient Greek and Roman art; one based on simplicity, purity, and restraint in line, form, proportion, and ornamentation. Translated into clothing and textile design, classicism influenced both traditionalists and modernists. Conservative designers and customers often favored a more literal interpretation of classical art, producing or wearing garments reminiscent of Greek tunics or draped Roman togas, or clothing decorated with motifs taken from ancient art. Modernists tended to focus on the underlying aesthetic principles: simple lines, clean proportions, and little extraneous surface decoration. In step with the "return to order" that infused a post-World War I classicism into all the arts, designers like Jean Patou, Edward Molyneux, and the American Mainbocher developed a new idea - classic clothing that was never out of style, that was easily cared for, and that exhibited a minimalist approach to decoration: the simpler the better. One opera coat in this section refers directly to classical antiquity, but most classic clothing had nothing to do with it. Sleek and form-fitting, the new silhouette rejected the moderne tubular shape in favor of quiet, body-skimming elegance. It was fashion's version of the International Style popularized by the Bauhaus in Germany and French architect Le Corbusier.