Fashion Through the Future.

Humanity has long gazed at the stars and envisioned a future civilisation and what sort of style it would bring. This has been undeniably impacted by the contemporary society’s own sociopolitical state. Our visions of tomorrow’s fashion often reveal as much about the present as they do about our image of the future. Retro-Futurism is defined as the use of a style or aesthetic considered futuristic in an earlier era; so what does our fascination with a time yet to come and its wardrobe tell us about ourselves?

The Birth of The Future

   One of the earliest instances of Retro-Futurism was the 1927 cult classic Metropolis. The German silent film was a cultural touchstone of envisioning futuristic style from a dystopian perspective. Its portrayal of an oligarchic society was reflected in its costuming, by Aenne Willkomm- industrial, utilitarian garments were donned by the working characters to represent the existing divide between the bourgeois and the proletariats. It set a precedent for how apparel could represent social order, while still visually stunning audiences.

The Space Age

   By the mid-century, futurism had taken a centre stage as man took his first step on the moon. The Space Race accelerated the excitement of picturing tomorrow’s culture. Designers like Cardin and Courrèges spearheading a movement of futuristic couture. They incorporated progressive design with plastics, metallic fabrics, and bubble silhouettes, incorporating almost alien elements to emphasise the Science Fiction of it all. Nonetheless, tradition was still imagined to remain into the future as shows like the Jetsons insisted that nuclear family dynamics would never die, possibly a way of the United States to maintain their superiority with conservatism over the USSR. 

Dystopia and Young Adult Fiction

   The 2000s saw a skyrocket in the demand for dystopia, especially in teen novels. The Hunger Games was a major success and was released at a time when America was perpetually at conflict with countries in the Middle East, and the Taliban seemingly never left the headlines. Interest in what could be to come peaked and westerners were morbidly intrigued by the concepts of such authoritarianism seen in foreign countries. Aesthetics in this fiction were gritty, unclean, and urban, and the clothes followed suit. The wealthy, on the other hand, wore camp, designer clothing, reflecting celebrity culture and events like the annual Met Gala. 

Chic Sustainability 

   In the present day, with all anxieties regarding climate change we see cautious optimism for an environmentally conscious and technologically advanced future. Modern designers often incorporate elements of environmentalism into their pieces; perhaps all of this comes out of the concern of our society right now, with right wing parties growing exponentially in popularity, descending into a dystopia. Are we really developing into that world which our predecessors warned about? 

Retro-Futurism’s Enduring Influence

   Whether we dream of utopia or worry of a mad world coming, fashion and costumes can offer a powerful lens into which we can explore our hopes and fears for the future. As these speculations remind us, the clothing is a tool that we can use to understand the complexities of our own current society. 

   Thank you for taking your time to read this week’s issue of LVIII. If you want to join the conversation about the sociological implications of the Retro-Futurism effect, DM me on my instagram page @/lviii.uk, or tag our twitter in your tweets sharing your thoughts!