Fashion imitating art: From DVF's surrealist take on Dali to Versace’s Botticelli tribute who the designers look to for inspiration

The fashion industry often takes direction from the art world.
And Diane von Fürstenberg is the latest designer to unveil an art-inspired campaign, paying homage to late friend and surrealist painter Salvador Dali.
Shot in the California desert the images, which showcase the spring /summer collection, reference works by the Spanish artist, in which melting clocks, animals with distorted bodies and lunar landscapes are common motifs.

Diane Von Furstenberg has unveiled its spring/summer 2012 campaign which pays homage to Salvador Dali

Inspiration: Dali's Vestigios atávicos después de la lluvia (Atavistic Vestiges after the Rain) painted in 1934

Many critics have been perturbed by the promotional shots which show a model with her face masked by an oval mirror.
The shots were taken by Camilla Akran, known for her slick imagery, and Emily Johnston of the blog Fashion Foie Gras suggests that for the first time, because of the model's anonymity, the focus is 'on the garments rather than who's starring in the campaign'.

 

Belgium-born Von Furstenberg, 65, partied with Dalí in the 'Seventies, and is a keen collector of his art. The Spanish artist, who died in 1989, has long been an influential figure in the world of fashion and he designed four Vogue covers from the 1930s to the 1970s.
He was also involved in collaborations with fashion figures such as Coco Chanel and her greatest rival the Italian Elsa Schiaparelli, for who he created famously created a lobster dress for in 1937.

Taking note of Versace's reference to Botticelli one blogger mocked up an image, depicting a Versace model as Venus in the painting Birth of Venus

Botticelli's original Birth of Venus is held in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence

Meanwhile going back to its Italian roots, Versace looked at religious works by the Renaissance painter Botticelli.
This season's collection is punctuated with pastel colours, delicate fabrics and feminine cuts.
Commenting on the spring / summer 2012 catwalk show Scottish designer Christopher Kane said: 'I thought they looked like Botticelli babes, rising from the sea.
'And the girls, with their beautiful hair, bobbing along... I kept having flashbacks.'
Speaking backstage creative Donatella Versace added: 'I was thinking of sirens and mermaids, their hot sexuality.'
Taking note of the comparison, one blogger has mocked up an image, depicting a Versace model as Venus in the painting Birth of Venus.
Painted in 1486 painting by Sandro Botticelli, it depicts the goddess Venus, having emerged from the sea as a fully-grown woman. The original is held in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence.

FASHION IMITATING ART: ON THE RUNWAY

VICKY BERROCAL & FRIDA

MIGUEL MARINERO & KLIMT

A model presents a creation by Vicky Martin Berrocal during Madrid Fashion Week which features vivid colours as seen in works by the Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, who is best known for her self-portraits

A model walks the runway in the Miguel Marinero fashion show during the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Madrid wearing a gold ensemble evocative of the works by the Austrian Symbolist painter
Gustav Klimt

DONNA KAREN & PHILIPPE DODARD

RODARTE & VAN GOGH

Donna Karan drew inspiration from the Haitian graphic artist Philippe Dodard (left) and at Rodarte they used Van Gogh’s Sunflowers on summer dresses

JIL SANDER & PICASSO

SPORTMAX & MONET

MOSCHINO & FRIDA

Jil Sander put Picasso-styled prints on white tops with flowing skirts

The blurred floral prints of Monet’s Water Lilies were mirrored by Sportmax

Moschino put models in floral headpieces similar to those used by Mexican painter,Frida Kahlo