Space in retrofuturism refers to what society used to believe space would be like in the future. During our retrofuturism lecture, it was interesting to see how historical events like the moon landing and spud nick impacted and influenced the world, particularly the fashion indus
trends amongst the fandoms. For example, Padmé Ami dala in Star Wars, holds the characteristics of a powerful role model whilst wearing other worldly, futuristic and beautiful looks. It is interesting to think of future fash ion being inspired by the logistics of the characters cos tumes in films like Star Wars. It may seem like a stretch now, but from technology and materials constantly advancing, outfits like Darth Vadar’s suit and astronaut’s attire, worn to protect and serve humans, may become a normalised way of life in the future. Films like these have opened the possibilities and ideas for designers for the future of fashion.
Fashion is always repeating past eras, looks and trends, including the time space was a hot topic. For modern fashion designers, they want to incorporate high-tech innovations into their future collections. You could say that this is a fashion designers’ idea on today’s predications of retro-futurism. A look designed by Tommy Hilfiger and worn by Zendaya at the 2019 Met Gala, was a Cinderella fairy-tail inspired gown that had a technical twist. Underneath the magic, was robotic, making the dress light up and change colour as she walked the met carpet. Looks that involve technology like these may be a new way of life for future in years to come. This reminded me of the interview I carried out with the gen alpha, when he explained how he believes the future isn’t far from creating designs that adapt to your needs throughout the day. Overall, space has improved the quality and practicality of certain fashion brands and pieces, that can be advanced even further in the future with the technology that we have.
CHANEL
2017 READY-TO-WEAR FALL COLLECTION
On the 7th of March 2017, Karl Lagerfeld re leased his ready-to-wear fall collection for Chanel, inspired by space. Transforming the ven ue into a futuristic warehouse holding a 35 meter Chanel labelled space rocket, that they eventually shot off to Elton John’s hit song ‘Rocket Man.’ His runway collection featured; the iconic Chanel tweed, but designed into square shoul ders and boxy looks, relaying the shape of an astronaut’s suit, high rounded neck cuts resembling the helmets of the suit, metallic and silver glitter fabrics, in my opinion looking like stars down the runway, fabrics with space prints from galaxy’s to astronauts on them, and space accessories like the black rocket shaped handbag. Models were rocking the 1960’s Barbarella backcombed hair, incorporating the retro-futuristic aspect to the runway. Aswell as their makeup following the same era, with metallic and silver eyeshadow behind thick black lashes. This runway is the epitome of haute-couture brands welcoming the idea of futurism and the space aesthetic into the fashion industry, collaborating it with their own identity and giving a glimpse to their audience of what the future holds for their fashion house.
ARIANA GRANDE
In relation to influencers, space has also become a popular theme in this world too. From branding to music videos, certain celebrities have resonated themselves and empire with space. One of these celebrities is Ariana Grande. In 2014, Ariana released a single and music video called ‘Break Free’ which featured robots and planets, capturing a future world, sci-fi and space like look. She has also released a song called ‘NASA’ in her 2016 Thank U, Next album, with an intro referring to the moon landing in 1969 saying, ‘One small step for woman, one giant leap for womankind.’ Following this, she then released NASA inspired merch for her song on the album. Space is featured through multiple different music videos of Ariana’s like; POV, God is a Woman and her new release Saturn’s Interlude, that explains how humans align with the planet. Space has become a resemblance for Ariana fans, especially from her Sweetener world tour, as she used a huge 3d moon hanging above her stage surrounded by visual stars and planets. Her style and aesthetic have additionally been inspired by space through metallics, vinyl fabrics and structured silhouettes in her looks resembling the astronaut appearance. Ariana has also collaborated with Fortnite, dressing her character up in an astronaut helmet to brand herself and her aesthetic within the game. One of her most space inspired aspects is her makeup brand REM, which alludes to the rapid eye
supposedly looking like they were a part of a space craft, aging for her matte lipsticks that are cased in an astronaut’s makeup products have different names that also allude to highlighter topper and midnight shadows. Through her a robotic and otherworldly outfit. Her aesthetic also fashioned 60’s style that is known as one of the peak
the world, like influencers, Ariana’s behaviour and style mimicked by her fans. Her relationship with space has a followers as they begin to resonate it with her, heightening unintentionally. Her fascination with space also opens the her fans to imagine what the future of not just fashion but pop will come to. She highlights the importance and positivity of looking into the future through her constant obsession of space and the future since 2014. She utilises space as a tool to make a statement through her work for example, twisting the words of Neil Armstrong in 1969 saying ‘One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.’ Ariana replaces the word ‘man’ with woman, nod ding to feminism. Ariana’s engagement with the space aesthetic delves deeper behind the makeup and mu videos, becoming a key for make a statement. Despite for the 60’s, she inspires her forget the past and embrace future with their imagination.
based off my research into
space
4. 1960’s space
5. imagination
6. prediction
7. NASA
8. space fashion
9. REMbeauty
BALENCIAGA
PARIS 2021 FALL READY-TO-WEAR COLLECTION
In 2021, Balenciaga released their Fall Ready-to-Wear collection in a groundbreaking way, inspired by a video game called ‘Afterword: The Age of Tomorrow.’ Balenciaga took the 2020 covid 19 pandemic as a reason to turn their traditional runway show into a digital game you can only play through a VR headset. Instead of models walking a catwalk,istic world, encountering different avatars dressed collection featured looks inspired by space-age and medieval aesthetics, with metallic boots, ar mour-like garments, and space suits em blazoned with NApieces appeared worn, shredded, recycled materials and sustain ability protest. incorporated AI generated models, a new way of showcasing designers looks in the future. From Balenciaga’s blend of eco-conscious, digital retro-futuristic style, this collection delves deeper behind the clothes, also being a bold statement about where fashion might be headed
CLUELESS
The 1995 film Clueless, has an aspect of retro-futurism in their fashion and technology. In the opening scene of the film, Cher Horowitz explains how she has a ‘normal life for a teenage girl,’ whilst using her touch screen computer to mix and match pieces to create one look generated by the software and her revolving wardrobe, in the 90’s. Even though the film itself is not set into the future, this touch screen aspect gives the audience a glimpse into what the future of fashion can come to in ‘normal life.’ This system has had such an impact on the fashion industry’s idea of the future and even pop culture. For example, in 2014, Iggy Azalea released her music video ‘Fancy’ featuring Charli XCX, that was based off the film Clueless. Throughout the video she mimicked iconic scenes from the film including the computerised wardrobe opening scene. Iggy collab orated with Revolve when shooting the wardrobe scene. Throughout the film, we also see scenes of Cher taking polaroids of her outfits, keeping a photographic document of her looks, much like we do now on our iPhones. Even the cliques and class presented through the film high lights how social media would later adapt and amplify these categories. The obsession with brands within the narrative could also mirror the label driven gen z and gen alphas we witness on social media apps like Tik Tok and Instagram today. Software like Cher’s
Fashion websites have now introduced virtual try on’s for customers to visualise the item on them before purchasing, as well as apps that have recently been introduced, influenced by the hype around Cher Horowitz’s method of placing an outfit together on a technical system. One of these apps is called Indyx, released in 2020. This was also the time of the covid 19 pan demic were screen times where heavily increased due to the amount of time locked in houses. This gave people time to scroll through and download different and new apps. Indyx has been labelled as a ‘not so clueless’ app, as it offers much more than Cher’s system, despite being influenced and based off this process. Indyx allows people to create a visual wardrobe of your clothes from uploading pictures of each piece, and automatically removing the background to create a sleek and focused look. The app allows you to organise your pieces and looks into different categories from favourites to brands. Indyx offers multi
California however, its take on the idea of future fashion and technology, hav
looks with your friends too. It also has an Indyx Insider subscription that costs $5 per month, providing advanced wardrobe customization and access to a private community within the app.
plan, design and receive it too. What was once fiction and far fetch in this film, is now our reality, show ing how accurate Clueless was in forecasting the digital future of fashion.
DRESS TO IMPRESS
From the rise of technology and games over the past decade amongst the younger genera tion, the fashion industry has interfered into this. Digital games that allow you to per sonalise and dress up your avatars have become a form of personalisation to the game, self-expression and ability to experiment with different pieces and aesthetics without the reality of judgment and limits. Most games that have characters are either Xbox or PS games like; The Sims, Fortnite and GTA, that have a different intention other than just fashion. However, these games still come with the feature to dress an avatar up, according to the narrative and setting of the game, mobile games are often the ones that serve fashion alone. This shows how fashion has crept into worlds where it was never intended too. I know from my own experience, when my dad used to play Xbox games like GTA, he would always ask me to create his character because he knew that was an aspect to games that I loved so much. Including things like this widens a
One fashion game in particular, that has become highly popular over the last two years, is Dress to Impress. DTI is a fashion game on the app Roblox, that allows you to dress up your character from a selection of specifically picked out clothes, under a time limit and theme for your look, to then walk the runway and compete for stars. This game not only allows you to express your eye for detail and fashionable taste, but also lets you vote for other players outfits when watching them on the runway. This game was original ly inspired by a previous Roblox game, Fashion Famous, which had the same basis as DTI, but limited creativity and quality. DTI has even brought generation z to play on Roblox as well as their target consumers gen alpha from the games feeling of not being made just for children, again broadening their audience to different age categories. Aswell as placing pieces together, this game also fits into the category of racing and winning that some people love. I know from me playing it, some people prefer the patience in creating looks rather than the game itself. This is why DTI also has serves that attend to peoples like for example, a serve where there is no competition only outfit creation, and a serve where the competition is heightened, and different twists are added along the way. the rise of this game has also came from different celebrities
tioned). Youtubers have also put their own spin on the game, taking it to the next level, by playing DTI in real life. Dress to Impress has also collaborated with the ‘Brat’ album by Charli XCX, designing clothes for people’s avatars to wear inspired by the bright green aesthetic of the album. This not only brings attention to the game but allows younger audiences to be aware
In conclusion, the crossover between fashion and gaming is no longer a niche aspect, but a feature that most players look for when playing a game, whether it is based on fashion or not. Character
